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Biography

Andrea Watson leads the Integrated Decision Support group at the U.S. Department of Energy (NREL). She and her team lead complex energy projects and programs that require strategy development, analytics, and technical decision making. Andrea’s expertise lies in strategic planning, change strategies, and decision-making support as applied to clean energy projects and programs. She has specific expertise in clean energy solutions for emission mitigation, international climate change strategies, and renewable energy applications applied to the mining industry. Andrea also leads the portfolio of work NREL does with through the USAID-NREL Partnership. The USAID-NREL Partnership works to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable power to the developing world. NREL’s technical assistance and tools help countries with policy, planning, and deployment support for advanced energy technologies. Andrea graduated from University of California at Berkeley with an undergraduate degree in integrative biology and from the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ with an ME in Engineering Management. In 2014, she completed a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Scholarship to Chile where she focused on renewable energy decision-making in the mining industry. Andrea has been at NREL since 2009.

Q&A

What made you decide to pursue a degree or certificate in Engineering Management?
My interest in technical decision support and project portfolio management.

Why did you choose the Engineering Management Program at CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ?
Format and curriculum.

How did the program help you in your career?
The Program made me a better manager and technical contributor.

What was your favorite graduate EMEN class/professor? Why?
Barb Lawton for the Authentic Leadership course.

What advice would you give a new student in the program?
Great program for professionals!

How would you summarize your experience with the program? 
I really enjoyed it and learned a lot.