Husson University Associate Professor Brien Walton, J.D. Ed.D., has been recognized as a Faculty Explorer in the inaugural EnergyTech University Prize Faculty Award competition by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Transitions. Walton is set to lead a clean energy and conservation incubator and accelerator program, aimed at promoting clean energy entrepreneurship through student engagement. The Faculty Explorers award distinguishes groundbreaking initiatives for encouraging clean energy entrepreneurship.

In his new role, Walton is slated to facilitate educational activities to inspire student interest and involvement in energy technology commercialization entrepreneurship on Husson’s campus, with guidance from a DOE mentor. He will implement his strategic plan for a clean energy and conservation incubator and accelerator, a concept commended for its distinct take on the traditional incubator strategy.

Walton was one of just ten Faculty Explorers named in this competition and the sole recipient from New England. The EnergyTech University Prize competition aims to nurture clean energy entrepreneurship among both students and faculty. This marks the competition’s first faculty-exclusive award. The winners will collaborate with U.S. Department of Energy mentors and have unique access to innovative ideas from the department’s 17 national labs.

Walton’s recognition and the implementation of his strategic plan place Husson University at the forefront of Maine’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and further validate Husson’s commitment to providing experiential learning opportunities, particularly in the sector of clean energy. The university is devoted to offering robust educational programs in a variety of fields, including business, health, education, technology, and communications. For additional information about Husson University’s academic opportunities, visit Husson.edu.