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Edgar Virgüez is an energy systems engineer promoting the transition toward decarbonized electric power systems. He is a husband, two-time father, and Old English Sheepdog owner. At Duke, he had a distinguished tenure receiving several of the most prestigious awards for graduate students, including the Graduate School Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Forever Duke Student Leadership Award. He actively engaged in Duke’s institutional service, participating in the Board of Trustees’ Activating the Global Network Taskforce (2018-2019) and Resources Committee (2019-2021). He also was a member of the Racial Equity Advisory Council (2021-2022). In addition, he served on the search committee for three senior positions, including Duke’s executive vice president. As a young scholar exhibiting exemplary promise as a rising higher-education leader, he gained national recognition by being named a K. Patricia Cross awardee in 2020 by the American Association of Colleges and Universities. After completing his graduate studies at Duke (M.A. and Ph.D.), Edgar joined Carnegie’s Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University, where he works as the Deputy Group Leader of the Climate Energy Lab.
Edgar has published more than 20 papers in top-tier peer-reviewed journals like Advances in Applied Energy, Applied Energy, Energy Conversion and Management, Energy & Environmental Science, Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T), and One Earth. In 2022, his research contributions were recognized with the best paper award from the Energy and Environment Group of the American Association of Geographers at the 2022 annual meeting and the U.S. Carbon Program Leadership Award from the Carbon Cycle Science Program & North American Carbon Program. In 2023, he was appointed as one of the seven inaugural Executive Editorial Board Members of the Environmental Research: Energy journal. More recently, in 2024, he was appointed to the Expert Advisory Panel of the Earthshot Prize (led by Prince William of Gales, awarding more than 6.25 million USD annually).
Edgar joined the board in hopes of continuing his quest to influence higher education standards toward a new educational model. One where responsible research is developed simultaneously with accessible and inclusive education. He believes Duke can be an example of an organization that assumes responsibility for community wellbeing while promoting social mobility. After experiencing a life-changing experience at Duke pursuing graduate studies with his wife Temis (MEM’19), a Forever Duke awardee in 2019, and having their two children born at Duke’s hospital (2018 and 2024), he aspires to leave Duke a better place for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, or any other distinction/affiliation.
Edgar was nominated by the Graduate/Professional Young Trustee Nominating Committee in 2022. He serves on the External Engagement Committee and Committee on Honorary Degrees. He is serving a three-year term on the board, one year as an observer and two years as a voting member.
July 2024