Biography
Mark de Groh - Director of Development and External Relations, UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center
Throughout his career, Mark has explored how sustainability shapes the human condition and how to leverage that connection to improve lives. An expert on energy and urban systems issues, he is a recognized leader in the sustainability and smart cities sectors. His experience and network span the full spectrum of city concerns, including, but not limited to, energy, architecture, water, transportation, housing, education, and community development. Prior to joining the UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center, he served as director of philanthropy for the U.S. Green Building Council and director of innovation for the American Architectural Foundation. He has also lived and worked abroad extensively, as a visiting scholar in Germany, an archaeologist in Turkey, and program director for an ecocities summit in China among other things. In 2013, the Aspen Institute recognized Mark as a scholar for its Aspen Ideas Festival. Trained as an urban historian and spatial theorist, he holds advanced degrees in history from The Ohio State University and Princeton University. His current academic research focuses on urban resilience in the preindustrial Mediterranean world.