Sharon Falcone Miller
I am currently a Senior Research Associate at The Earth and Mineral Sciences Energy Institute and an Associate Professor in the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State University since 1996. My area of research is in biomass/opportunity fuels and fossil fuel utilization in energy systems and I have taught an independent senior research project course to energy engineering majors for the past four years. I am also the Director of the Office of Student Development at the Energy Institute which is focused on encouraging under-represented minorities and women to pursue graduate research as well as providing undergraduates with opportunities in energy-related research.
In recent years, my passion has shifted from research to working with students through teaching and other service activities. I am particularly interested in working with students of diversity as well as students who are the first in their family to attend college as I was. This is why I have enjoyed my tenure since 2006 as President of the Penn State Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi where I have the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of all our students and give back to the academic community.
I received my Ph.D. in Fuel Science at The Pennsylvania State University (1992), M.S. in Geology at the University of North Dakota, (1983) and my B.S. in Geography and Earth Science at Frostburg State College (1977). I have two children. My son is pursuing degrees in history and german at Penn State and a daughter who is a junior in high school and an avid cellist preparing to major in music.
