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As part of the Distinguished Scientist and Engineer Seminar Series, which showcases the work of diverse and accomplished STEM faculty from across the country, the College of Engineering in collaboration with the College of Natural Sciences will host nationally recognized energy and environmental justice scholar Tony G. Reames on the UMass campus Feb. 20 and 21.

Reames is Tishman Professor of Environmental Justice and an associate professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), where he founded the Urban Energy Justice Lab and the Energy Equity Project. He is also director of the SEAS Sustainability Clinic in Detroit. His research focuses on investigating fair and equitable access to affordable, reliable, clean energy and exploring the production and persistence of energy disparities across race, income and geography.

On Thursday, Feb. 20, Reames will present, “The Arc of Energy Justice: A Pursuit to Ensure Affordable, Reliable, and Clean Energy for All,” at 5:30 p.m. in Integrated Learning Center, Room S331, which will be followed by a community dinner at 6:45 p.m. in the Campus Center Amherst Room. The lecture will include engaging conversation about disparities in residential energy generation, consumption and affordability centering on the production and persistence of inequality by race, class and place.

On Friday, Feb. 21, Reames will host a technical talk, “Coming Full Circle: Environmental and Energy Justice From South Carolina to Scholarship to Strategy,” at 1 p.m. in the Life Science Laboratories S330/340. This talk will be of interest to graduate students as Reames will discuss his career trajectory inside academia and government and his work on environmental and energy justice. He will also share insight on challenges, opportunities and benefits of incorporating equity and justice considerations in STEM.

Reames has spent much of his career in the emerging field of energy justice, which investigates fair and equitable access to affordable, reliable and clean energy technology.

Prior to his position at SEAS, Reames took a leave of absence to serve as principal deputy director for State and Community Energy Programs, and deputy director for Energy Justice at the U.S. Department of Energy.

He led the Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis in the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity. In this role, he spearheaded the agency’s plan to implement former President Joe Biden’s Justice40 Initiative and was responsible for energy justice policy and analysis to ensure that energy investments and benefits reached frontline communities, Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color. He deployed $16 billion in support of energy efficiency measures and clean energy planning, aiding communities that bear the worst impacts of the climate crisis.

Reames holds a doctorate in public administration from the University of Kansas, a master’s in engineering management from Kansas State University, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. He is a licensed engineer and U.S. Army veteran.

The events are free to attend and reservations are encouraged. For more information, visit the College of Engineering website.