Bio-Energy Center Staff


 

Greg Kegel
Dean, College of Technical Sciences
Gregory D. Kegel currently serves as the Dean for the College of Technical Science, Montana State University-Northern.  Since his appointment, Dean Kegel has worked to expand Northern’s technical programs including establishing  2-year associate programs in trades craft such as plumbing, carpentry, construction and electrical.  He has also worked to strengthen the co-op student program for diesel and automotive students with summer internship programs with national and international businesses such as Kiewit, Fairbanks Morse, Foundation Coal, General Electric, Toyota, and Ford.  Dean Kegel helped secure over five million to build the new Applied Technology Center, which houses the Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center and has been successful in obtaining numerous federal appropriations and grants.  The Dean has worked to foster productive industry linkages that have proven beneficial to MSU-Northern and industry by providing contract training for Ford, Case New Holland, Toyota, Montana State Department of Transportation, and others.  Previous to his appointment, Dean Kegel was a professor at Montana State University-Northern and a training specialist for Autodesk, Inc.  Mr. Kegel received a Masters of Sciences degree from Central Washington University. 
Phone: 406-265-4157
Email: kegel@msun.edu

 

Nestor U. Soriano, Jr., PhD
Lead Research Scientist
Nestor U. Soriano, Jr., PhD is the lead research scientist and oversees the Testing Center. Dr. Soriano received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Chemistry from University of the Philippines, Laguna. He received his PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Tsukuba, Japan where he gained extensive research experience in the chemical modification of vegetable oils for the production of high-value additives and bio-diesel. His work on the development of vegetable oil-based pour point depressant and electrochemical cracking of triglycerides led to two patents. Dr. Soriano comes to MSU-Northern from North Carolina State University where he served as a postdoctoral Research Associate. During his tenure with North Carolina State University, Nestor’s research demonstrated solubility of amino acids and poly peptides in supercritical CO2 through reverse micelle formation using fluorinated surfactant. 
Phone: 406-265-3717
Email: nestor.soriano@msun.edu

 

Jessica Alcorn-Windy Boy
Center Director
Jessica Alcorn-Windy Boy is the Director of the Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center. Jessica previously worked as Director of Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) in Washington, DC. While she was working for CERT, Jessica helped ensure that a progressive Indian Energy Title was included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Previous to her work with CERT, Jessica served on the White House Task for Energy Project Streamlining where she organized energy development on Tribal lands. Jessica holds a Masters in Public Administration degree from New York City University and a Bachelors of Art degree from Brigham Young University-Hawaii.
Phone: 406-265-4199
Email: j.alcornwindyboy@msun.edu

 

Keith Richardson
Technical Assistant
Keith Richardson has over 40-years experience in automotive, aircraft, motorcycle, agriculture, construction and mining equipment repair maintenance and design.  Before joining the Testing Center at Northern, Keith was a design engineer for Big Bud Tractors starting in 1975.  During his tenure at Big Bud he designed several models of Big Bud Tractors from concept to prototype, and then supervised the building and assembling of those tractors.  Keith has extensive experience in designing power trains, hydraulic systems, and electrical systems.  He also designed earth moving scrapers as well as several other equipment needs for railroads.
Phone: 406-265-4115
Email: keith.richardson@msun.edu

 

Jessica Sorensen
Laboratory Technician
Jessica's bio coming soon!

 

Caleb Hutchins
Communications Specialist
Caleb is responsible for designing and publishing the Center's marketing and promotional materials, and for designing and maintaining the Center's website, along with any other graphic design for the Center. Caleb graduated from MSU-Northern in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design and a minor in Community Development. Before joining the Bio-Energy Center's team, he worked with North Central Montana Transit to develop their branding, marketing, and web strategy.

 

Taylor Lyon
Laboratory Technician
Taylor's bio coming soon!

 

Megan McKay
Laboratory Assistant
Megan Mckay is one of our energetic laboratory assistants.  She became a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) in 1997 from Clover Park Technical College. While working as a CDA Megan continued her education at Pierce College in Tacoma taking additional science classes. In 2009, she became a Certified Nurse Aide and obtained medical CPR certification. Now a single mother of two beautiful children, Megan has returned to school and is currently a student at MSU- Northern. She will receive her Associate of Arts degree in May 2010 and continue working toward a Bachelor Degree with a double major in both the Diesel Technology: Field Maintenance Option and the Biology program.  Megan has combined both of her interests into an attainable life goal.  She is extremely excited and proud to be a part of our research team.