Keynote Speaker Series: Dr. Levi Thompson – Making a Difference: Perspectives on Being a Change Agent

We are excited to welcome Dr. Levi T. Thompson, former Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Delaware, for a special Keynote Speaker Series talk on April 11th at NYU. This event is organized in collaboration with the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at NYU Tandon.

Theme: Making a Difference: Perspectives on Being a Change Agent

Abstract: As far back as I can remember, my goal has been to make a difference. Early in my career my focus was on improving student outcomes and advancing research. More recently, my focus has been on organizational change. This talk will start with a brief description of my journey. I will then discuss strategies that I have used to accomplish change for impact while holding informal and formal leadership positions. I will close with an overview of our research aimed at making base metals perform like noble metals in catalytic and energy storage applications.

Dr. Thompson is the Elizabeth Inez Kelley Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Delaware. He earned his B.ChE. from the University of Delaware and M.S.E. degrees in Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering, along with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan (UM). He served as Dean of the University of Delaware College of Engineering from 2018 to 2024. Prior to that, he was a faculty member at the University of Michigan, where he held roles as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Director of the Hydrogen Energy Technology Laboratory, and Director of the Michigan-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation.

His scholarly research on nanostructured materials for catalytic and energy storage applications is documented in more than 150 publications and over 10 patents. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of AIChE, and a recipient of prestigious awards including the NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award, McBride Distinguished Lectureship, Union Carbide Innovation Recognition Award, and Michiganian of the Year Award for his contributions to research, entrepreneurship, and teaching. Dr. Thompson also co-founded T/J Technologies, a developer of nanomaterials for advanced batteries, which was later acquired by A123 Systems, and Inmatech, a company focused on low-cost, high-energy-density supercapacitors for automotive and military applications.

Full Bio.

We encourage you to join us for this insightful presentation. Please RSVP  to secure your spot! Feel free to share this invitation with anyone who may be interested.

📅 Date: April 11th, 2025
🕒 Time: 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: NYU Tandon, 370 Jay Street, Floor 12, Seminar Room 1201

This is a hybrid event, available both in person and online.
🔗 Zoom access: https://nyu.zoom.us/my/cbeseminar

☕ Coffee and pastries will be served before the event! Feel free to arrive a bit early and treat yourself.