Laura Taylor Appointed Director of the Energy Policy and Innovation Center

After a national search, Laura Taylor has been appointed director of the Energy Policy and Innovation Center (EPICenter) within the Strategic Energy Institute (SEI), effective Nov. 1. 

“We are very excited to build on the existing strength of EPICenter, moving it toward recognition as a top ten energy think tank and a major recruiting draw for new faculty in the IAC and across the university,” said Christine Conwell, interim executive director of SEI. “We hope Laura’s leadership will help launch a new era for EPICenter and strengthen its support of the outstanding faculty and students conducting rigorous energy policy research across campus.”

"I’m thrilled to join EPICenter and the SEI leadership team,” said Taylor. “Thanks to our home within the No. 1 public university in the country for energy research, EPICenter is uniquely positioned to lead applied energy policy research and engagement in the Southeast, helping to drive Georgia and our region forward as a national leader in innovation and policy for a sustainable energy future.”

During Taylor’s time as chair, the School of Economics doubled its faculty with 19 new faculty members, and the number of students pursuing a major in economics increased by more than 50%. Economics also expanded its teaching and research in several areas including health, energy, environment, globalization, theory, and data analytics. The School’s bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs achieved federal STEM designation in 2019, reflecting the curriculum’s tech-centered approach to liberal arts education and emphasis on using mathematical and statistical models. The School’s undergraduate economics program ranked No. 1 among public universities in Georgia and No. 21 among public universities nationally in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

“It’s been an amazing six years working with the exceptional students, faculty and staff in the School of Economics. I look forward to continuing to contribute to the School in new ways while leading EPICenter,” added Taylor. 

Haizheng Li, professor and the School’s current associate chair, will serve as interim chair of the School of Economics beginning Nov. 1. Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts expects to launch an international search for the new chair of the School of Economics in academic year 2025-2026, after the College’s new dean is appointed.

“The School of Economics has thrived and grown under Dr. Taylor’s outstanding leadership,” said Richard Utz, interim dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. “The School is very fortunate to have benefited from her guidance. I am confident Dr. Li will keep that momentum going and will help the school effectively navigate the leadership transition.”

Taylor has 30 years of experience in research, outreach, and policy engagement in the Southeast. Her work uses economic tools to improve environmental and energy systems management and policy. She also has research and policy experience focused on the intersection of energy systems and human health, water resource management, and land use. She has held numerous advisory board positions and is an elected fellow and past president of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists. 

Taylor’s research has received funding from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Interior, and the National Science Foundation. 

About EPICenter

The mission of the Energy, Policy, and Innovation Center is to conduct rigorous studies and deliver high impact insights that address critical regional, national, and global energy issues from a Southeastern U.S. perspective. EPICenter is pioneering a holistic approach that calls upon multidisciplinary expertise to engage the public on the issues that emerge as the energy transformation unfolds. The center operates within Georgia Tech’s Strategic Energy Institute.