Dr. Schelly works with students and colleagues on research and engagement to facilitate sustainability transitions. Dr. Schelly's collaborators share a passion for working towards a more just, equitable, sustainable, and resilient future.
Chelsea Schelly, PhD
Dr. Schelly is an Associate Professor of Sociology in the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Technological University. She received her PhD from the Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2013.
Her work is inspired by the belief that the technological systems used to sustain residential life structure how humans conceive of their relationship to the natural world and to one another.
You can also find her on ResearchGate, Academia, and LinkedIn. She also occasionally writes for the MTU sustainability blog.
Current Students
Jace Lutey, Masters of Science (MS)
Zoe Ketola, Masters of Science (MS)
Christian Sheja, Masters of Science (MS)
Abbi Halkola, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Don Lee, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Don Lee is a Phd student in Environmental and Energy Policy with his research focus on democraticizing energy systems through public ownership ensuring reliability and resilience through revenue reinvestment. His research efforts translate into community support for an engaged and informed decision making leading to locally accepted and regionally appropriate clean energy transition. Through his research, Don aims to improve solutions of equitable access to energy and climate change mitigation.
Shardul Tiwari, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Shardul Tiwari (MSc) is a PhD student in Environmental and Energy Policy and a Fellow at the Keweenaw Energy Transition Lab at MTU. He is currently pursuing his research on energy justice, energy policy, and looking at the integration of renewable energy technologies in the U.S electricity market.
Graduated Students
William Lytle, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Dr. Lytle has intentionally cultivated experiences to understand complex problems in the last decade. Drawing from a vareity of perspectives including finance, policy, built infrastructure, media, ecology, sociology, politics, and strategic planning, it has enabled him to manage diverse programs. He is the founder of Evergreen International Sustainability Solutions, a platform for providing consulting services to industry, governments, and academia through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and institutional analysis in emerging markets. During his Phd stint at MTU, Lytle was focused on the perception, practices, and policies that govern food, energy, and water consumption in a suburban US home.
Adewale Adesanya, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Dr. Adesanya is the founder of Havenergy Consulting, which is engaged in decarbonization pathway analysis, project management, energy policy advisory, and energy justice and equity advocacy. During his PhD tenure at MTU, he was part of the collaborative research on Michigan Indigenous Community and Anishinaabe Renewable Energy Sovereignty (MICARES) project.
Emily Prehoda, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Emily Prehoda is currently engaged with a solar development firm in Michigan. She is involved in providing policy support to the company in the form of monitoring and preparation of testimony regarding upcoming energy policy and changing legal environment. She is also responsible for overseeing regular operations alongside development of growth strategies. Her other involvements include team management and development of solar projects for C&I and Municipal level solar projects. During her PhD stint at MTU, Emily's focus was on energy security, policy and community engagement surrounding solar energy applications.
Amanda Kreuze, Masters of Science (MS)
Amanda focused her research on perceptions of hydraulic fracking in two Michigan counties. Using qualitative methods, her work evaluated the perceptions of high-volume hydraulic fracturing. The objective was to identify and characterize the risks and benefits of high-volume hydraulic fracturing with differing levels of activity. The study aimed to evaluate if the presence of unconventional natural gas production influences community perceptions. After completing her MS, she pursued doctoral research in the field of environmental justice and public health to inform policy on environmental regulations in Michigan. Her research agenda pertains to issues of environmental justice and environmental health, specifically how pollution exposures among women influences pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Alexis Pascaris, Masters of Science (MS)
Alexis is a research scientist and policy advocate at heart. She is the founder of AgriSolar Consulting, a platform designed to channel her expertise in energy policy and sustainable development into the broader realization of agrivoltaic systems. She earned her M.Sc degree in Environmental and Energy Policy from MTU. Her expertise lays at the intersection of renewable energy, land use, sustainable development, and environmental policy. She is also involved in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and contributes to the field of agrovoltaic development through her expertise. Alexis aims to contribute her knowledge about energy policy and sustainable development to unite agriculture and solar.
Karuna Rana, Masters of Science (MS)
Other Collaborators
Kathy Halvorsen
Dr. Kathy is currently University Professor of Natural Resources Policy, and holds joint faculty appointment with the Department of Social Sciences and the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University M(TU). Dr. Kathy has two main research domains: indigeneity and environmental stewardship and socio-technological system transitions toward climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Valoree S Gagnon
Valoree S Gagnon is the Assistant Professor in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, and the Director for University-Indigenous Community Partnerships at the Great Lakes Research Center, at Michigan Technological University (MTU). Gagnon’s interdisciplinary expertise in environmental policy, food sovereignty, and community-engaged research focuses on the human dimensions of natural resources and the socio-cultural impacts of legacy toxic compounds, particularly on fishing communities. Her research, teaching, and service center on elevating Indigenous peoples and knowledge, facilitating equitable research practice and design, and guiding partnerships that prioritize the protection and restoration of land and life in the Great Lakes region.
Carston Kuelheim
Dr. Kuelheim is an associate professor in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University (MTU). Dr. Kuelheim's research investigates the interactions between trees and their environment – both abiotic and biotic. He uses diverse methods including whole genome sequence analysis, plant physiology, chemical ecology and functional genomics. His studies produce vital information for the selection of resilient trees which will provide valuable resources such as construction and high-tech materials, and biofuels in the future.
Roman Sidorstov
Dr. Sidortsov currently serves as an Associate Professor of Energy Policy at Michigan Technological University (MTU), Associate Editor of Energy Research and Social Science, and Senior Research Fellow in Energy Justice and Transitions at the Science Policy Research Unit of the University of Sussex. Dr. Sidortsov’s research focuses on international and comparative energy law and policy with a special emphasis on the Russian Federation and the United States, revitalization of post-industrial communities through sustainable energy redevelopment, energy security and justice, risk governance in the energy sector, and Arctic energy development.
Mostafa Sahrael-Ardakani
Dr. Mostafa is an assistant professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah. His research interests lie at the intersection of power engineering, operations research, economics, and public policy. His research interests is at the intersection of power and energy systems by looking at power system optimization, transmission system operation, electricity markets, energy and environmental economics and policy, and the smart grid.
David Watkins
Dr. Watkins is the distinguished professor at the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geospatial Engineering, Michigan Technological University (MTU). Dr. Watkins' teaching interests include hydrologic and hydraulic engineering, water and environmental systems analysis, and international service learning. His research work has focused on sustainable development and the application of decision theory and information technology to environmental and water resources problems in both the developing and industrialized world.
Jianli Chen
Dr. Jianli Chen is an assistant professor in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, University of Utah. Dr. Jianli is devoted to improving the building and urban sustainability and resilience for the future smart city. His research focus on building energy and airflow modeling, application of Artificial Intelligence and information technology for improved building and infrastructure smartness, building energy efficiency, occupant behavior, comfort, and health.
Ge (Gaby) Ou
Dr. Gaby Ou is an assistant professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Utah. Her research focus is civil infrastructural performance assessment. Interested topics including hybrid simulation testing technique, nonlinear system modelling and identification, structural health monitoring using engineering sensor and human sensor information, and critical infrastructure interdependence analysis.
Joshua Pearce
Dr. Joshua Pearce is the John M. Thompson Chair in Information Technology and Innovation at the Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership & Innovation. He holds appointments at Ivey Business School and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. His research spans areas of solar photovoltaic technology, open hardware, distributed recycling and additive manufacturing, policy and economics.