Kelly Potter

Biography

Dr. Kelly Simmons-Potter is a Distinguished Outreach Professor and the Associate Dean, Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering.  She served as Director of Graduate Studies of Electrical and Computer Engineering from 2019-2023.  She is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, a Professor of Optical Sciences, and of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ.  Dr. Simmons-Potter received her B.S. in Physics in 1986 from Florida State University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in 1990 and 1994 respectively in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona.  Dr. Simmons-Potter spent nearly 10 years at Sandia National Laboratories, from 1994 to 2003, ending in the position of Principal Member of Technical Staff and Project Manager for Advanced Optical Technologies.  In 2003, she left Sandia Labs to return to academia at the U.A.  Dr. Simmons-Potter is a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society, Director of the Arizona Research Initiative for Solar Energy (AzRISE), and is a Professor in the Food, Energy, Water GIDP.  She is the co-author of four textbooks in the field of optics, has authored more than 125 peer-reviewed publications, has delivered more than 150 scholarly presentations, and holds several patents.  Dr. Simmons-Potter is the recipient of numerous awards, including six Outstanding Service Awards for her work in the field of radiation-hardened optics, the 2010 University of Arizona Science and Engineering Faculty Excellence Award, and the 2016 University of Arizona Mentor Award for her years of organization and mentorship of the Racing the Sun high school solar go-kart event.  In addition, Dr. Simmons-Potter was a featured speaker on KUAZ-FM Arizona Science Friday in November 2019.  Her research focuses on radiation-resistant optics, resiliency of renewable energy components, and design of off-grid FEW systems.

Degrees

• Ph.D. Optical Sciences
• University of Arizona, Arizona
• M.S. Optical Sciences
• University of Arizona, Arizona
• B.S. Physics
• Florida State University

Awards

• Outstanding Service: 2022 Vice-Chair Steering Committee
• Hardened Electronics and Radiation Technologies (HEART), Spring 2021
• Interview
• KUAZ-FM Arizona Science Friday Interview, Fall 2019
• Meritorious Paper Award
• Meritorious Paper Award, Photovoltaic Reliability Workshop 2019, Spring 2019
• Keynote Speaker
• RADECS, Fall 2018
• Outstanding Service, Publications Chair
• HEART Steering Committee, Spring 2018
• Outstanding Service: 2018 for Senior Editor of JRERE
• JRERE, Spring 2018
• Mentor Award
• University of Arizona Tech Park, Spring 2016
• Elected to HEART Steering Committee
• Committee Member, Spring 2015
• Outstanding Service
• HEART Technical Interchange Meeting Committee, Spring 2015
• Fellow American Ceramic Society
• American Ceramic Society, Fall 2014
• Outstanding Paper Award
• Journal of Radiation Effects Research and Engineering, Summer 2013
• Outstanding Presentation Award
• Hardened Electronics and Radiation Technology Society, Spring 2012