EPP bridges technical depth and societal impact at CMU

For Joe DeCarolis, returning to Carnegie Mellon University as the head of the Department of Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) is more than just a homecoming. After serving as the presidentially-appointed administrator of the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), he has assumed leadership of the department where he earned his Ph.D., ensuring the next generation of engineers’ technical expertise meets the urgent demands of the real world. DeCarolis brings a unique perspective on how rigorous analysis translates into high-level policy influence. Rooted in its 50-year legacy, DeCarolis describes EPP as the essential bridge between cutting-edge research and critical decisions that shape our society.

You’ve balanced roles as an educator at NC State and as a Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed administrator of the Energy Information Administration (EIA). What pulled you back to academia and specifically CMU?

Joe DeCarolis: Serving as EIA Administrator was incredibly rewarding. It was a privilege to help shape the direction of an organization that I care deeply about.

But I am an academic at heart. I love research and taking time to think carefully about important questions. One of the things that first drew me to CMU and EPP was the department’s problem-driven approach to research. When you’re trying to solve real-world problems, you naturally cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. I have always loved that aspect of the work. Some of the most rewarding moments come from learning from colleagues with different expertise and bringing those perspectives together.

So when the opportunity arose to return to Carnegie Mellon and lead EPP, it felt like the perfect fit for this stage of my career. It brought together the things I value most: research, collaboration, and the chance to help guide a department that has had such a profound impact on my own journey.

As an alumnus, this is a bit of a homecoming for you. How has the EPP landscape, CMU itself, evolved since you were here earning your Ph.D.?

Coming back has been fun because the campus feels instantly familiar. The Mall looks much the same, though I’ve also found myself occasionally bumping into buildings that were not here when I was a student.

More than anything, returning to EPP has felt like coming back to my intellectual home. The spirit of collaboration and innovation that I remember from my days as a student is very much alive. In EPP, there is still a strong sense of community among the faculty, staff, and students, and that is something I have always valued about this place.

What has impressed me most is how true EPP has remained to its mission. The department continues to tackle difficult problems at the intersection of science, engineering, and policy. Those challenges have evolved over time, but the commitment to rigorous, problem-driven research and to making a real-world impact remains as strong as ever.

For an incoming student choosing between a traditional engineering degree and EPP, how do you explain the unique value proposition of this department? What sets it apart?

I usually start by pointing out that, at the undergraduate level, EPP is not a substitute for a traditional engineering degree. Our students major in engineering disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, chemical, or civil engineering and then choose to add EPP because they want a broader perspective on how technology interacts with society.

We need experts who can go deep in a technical field. But we also need people who can bridge the gap between technology and decision making. That has always been the unique role of EPP. We train students to understand both the technology and the broader societal context so they can help answer difficult questions where neither perspective alone is enough.

We train students to understand both the technology and the broader societal context so they can help answer difficult questions where neither perspective alone is enough.

Joe DeCarolis, Department Head, Engineering and Public Policy

What makes EPP especially distinctive is the way we approach problems. We don’t start within a disciplinary silo and ask questions that neatly fit the boundaries. Instead, we start with a pressing societal challenge and bring together the expertise needed to address it. That might involve engineering, economics, computer science, physical science, psychology, or public policy. One of EPP's greatest strengths is that much of that expertise exists within a single department.

We have been doing this kind of work for nearly 50 years, and our alumni are a testament to the value of that approach. Hundreds of EPP graduates have gone on to leadership positions in government, industry, academia, and nonprofits. They are using their EPP training to inform decisions on some of society's most important challenges, which is exactly what the department was created to do.

What are your primary goals for the department over the next few years?

The world is changing incredibly quickly. Advances in areas like artificial intelligence, energy, and computing are creating new opportunities, but they are also raising difficult questions for policymakers, businesses, and society. I want to make sure EPP remains at the forefront of helping people navigate those challenges.

One of my main priorities is working with our faculty, staff, students, and external partners to think carefully about where the department should focus its efforts. That includes identifying the research areas where we can have the greatest impact, ensuring that our curriculum prepares students for the challenges they will face after graduation, and finding new ways to translate our work into real world influence.

EPP has a long history of producing rigorous research that informs important decisions. I’d like to build on that tradition by expanding the ways we engage with decision makers in government, industry, and the nonprofit sector. Our goal is not simply to publish research, but to ensure that high-quality analysis helps shape important conversations and decisions.

Ultimately, my goal is to help position EPP for the future while preserving the qualities that have made the department successful for more than 50 years.

You’ve noted that EPP aims to connect “cutting-edge research with high-level policy discussions.” Practically speaking, how does that research translate into real-world impact? What is EPP’s specific mechanism of change?

I don’t think there is a single formula for turning research into impact. The world is a busy and complicated place, and policy decisions are influenced by many different factors. If your goal is to help improve decision making, you have to be creative and resourceful in looking for opportunities to contribute.

Sometimes that means briefing members of Congress and their staff. Sometimes it means speaking with reporters, writing articles or blog posts, participating in public discussions, or sharing insights through social media. Academic journals remain important, but if we want our work to inform decisions, we also have to be willing to engage with people where they are. Having worked in government myself, I know firsthand the value of timely, rigorous analysis when decisions need to be made.

And as I mentioned, many of our alumni are now directly involved in making decisions and shaping policy, bringing with them the analytical skills and problem-solving approach they learned here.

At its core, EPP is about helping society make better decisions. That means we cannot stop when a paper is published. We have to go the extra mile to communicate our findings, engage with decision makers, and make sure our work has the best possible chance of informing important conversations and choices.

Interacting with students always offers a fresh perspective. What have you learned from CMU students so far that has surprised or excited you?

One of the highlights of returning to Carnegie Mellon has been getting to know our students. We have an exceptional group of students in EPP, and it has been a pleasure to work with them over the past year.

What stands out to me is not just their technical ability, although that is certainly impressive. They also bring a remarkable range of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. Our students come to EPP with different interests and ways of looking at problems, and those differences make our conversations richer and our work stronger.

I’ve also been struck by how engaged they are with the outside world. They aren’t content simply to understand how things work. They want to understand how to make things better. That curiosity and sense of purpose are very much in keeping with the spirit of EPP.

After several years in government service, working with students again has been refreshing. Their energy, creativity, and optimism are a constant reminder of why teaching and mentoring are such important parts of what we do.