Veena Misra is an accomplished researcher, educator and academic leader with more than 25 years of experience in semiconductor technologies, microelectronics and engineering innovation. She currently serves as interim dean of the College of Engineering at NC State University, following her appointment as head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2024.

Misra is the founding director and lead principal investigator of the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies, pioneering wearable, self-powered technologies for continuous health and environmental monitoring. Her research spans advanced semiconductor devices, power electronics, nanoscale technologies and energy harvesting, with more than 230 scholarly publications.

An IEEE Fellow, Misra has received numerous prestigious honors, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the NSF CAREER Award and NC State’s Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence.

A three-time NC State alumna, she earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering. Before joining the NC State faculty in 1998, she worked at Motorola’s Advanced Products Research and Development Laboratories.

William “Bill” Dean is the CEO of M.C. Dean, Inc., a position he has held since 1997. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a $44 million national firm into a $3 billion multinational enterprise with more than 9,000 employees, delivering innovations in critical infrastructure, automation, electronic security, IT, communications, and cloud technologies.

A proud graduate of NC State’s College of Engineering, Bill has maintained a deep and enduring relationship with his alma mater. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus and inducted into the Electrical & Computer Engineering Hall of Fame for his professional achievements and service to the engineering community. His continued involvement reflects both his personal and professional commitment to fostering the next generation of engineers.

As a third-generation engineer and business leader, Bill brings a legacy of innovation, growth, and strategic vision. He frequently advises Fortune 10 global enterprises and top federal agencies on critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and modular design. Through this latest partnership with NC State’s College of Engineering, Bill and M.C. Dean are deepening a long-standing relationship—investing in the future of education, research, and technology to strengthen the pipeline of engineering talent and advance innovation.

John Gajda is an accomplished electrical power systems engineer and energy industry leader with more than 36 years of experience spanning electric utilities, power systems consulting, regulatory affairs and renewable energy. In 2026, Gov. Josh Stein appointed him to the North Carolina Utilities Commission, where he brings extensive technical expertise to advancing reliable, affordable and sustainable utility services.

Gajda served most recently as a professor of the practice in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State University, where he taught graduate courses in electric power systems engineering. His career includes leadership and technical roles across investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, government agencies and the private sector.

A licensed professional engineer, Gajda earned his master’s degree in electrical engineering from NC State University in 1994. He is passionate about mentoring future engineers and bridging academic education with real-world challenges in power infrastructure, grid modernization and energy systems.

Lee Ragsdale serves as senior vice president, strategic planning and projects, for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives in Raleigh.

Ragsdale is a recognized industry leader in discovering and delivering innovative energy solutions that make the grid more flexible and resilient while providing consumer-members new ways to manage energy use. He testified before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on distributed energy resources and microgrids, and before the North Carolina Utilities Commission on the distribution operator, transmission planning and integrating distributed energy resources.

He is leading the cooperatives’ efforts to execute transformative projects to build a Brighter Future for North Carolina. Ragsdale serves on the SERC Reliability Corporation board of directors and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation Reliability Issues Steering Committee. He has also been a member of the Electric Power Research Institute Research Advisory Council and the Leadership NC board of directors.

He has led teams at North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation in grid infrastructure, resource planning, portfolio management and asset management since 2007, and has been actively involved in cybersecurity, grid modernization and company-wide strategic planning. Ragsdale has been in the electric utility industry since 1991, having worked at Georgia Power, NewEnergy Associates and Progress Energy Ventures before joining North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

Ragsdale holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA in economics from Georgia State University. He is a licensed professional engineer in North Carolina.

Ragsdale lives in Raleigh with his wife and two college-age children. He is an active member of Hayes Barton United Methodist Church and enjoys ultra-distance endurance events.