Mississippi State University hosts Argonne National Laboratory’s Richard Ezike

STARKVILLE, Miss. –  Mississippi State University recently hosted Richard Ezike, a Clean Technology Project Manager at Argonne National Laboratory, during a visit on November 11.

In his role at Argonne, Ezike supports the Sustainable Transportation and Education Partnership department’s mission to research, develop, demonstrate, and deploy cutting-edge science and technology. He also assists in creating impactful education, workforce and equity-centered programming, shaping sustainable transportation solutions and building the next-generation workforce to transition the nation to e-mobility. Ezike is an organizer for the EcoCAR EV Challenge and leads the Equity in Mobility (EiM) effort in that challenge.

During his visit, Ezike toured the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) and met with CAVS director Clay Walden and Robert Green, interim dean of engineering, and Jean Mohammadi-Aragh, Director of the Bagley College Office of Inclusive Excellence. Ezike took a campus tour and then met with the EiM EcoCAR subteam to discuss their design of hand controls for people with lower limb disabilities. As the guest of honor at a dinner event with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Ezike spoke on his career and encouraged all the students to believe in themselves and overcome obstacles.

Prior to Argonne, Ezike worked for the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, CHPlanning Ltd., the Urban Institute, the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He has advised on transportation issues for federal agencies such as the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency; and for organizations such as the Transportation Research Board, Smart Growth America, the Greenlining Institute, Securing America’s Future Energy, and the State Innovation Exchange. Ezike holds degrees in chemical engineering with a doctorate from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and a bachelor’s from North Carolina State University.

By: Audrey Grace McQuirter