Season 1, Episode 6 – Streams Live December 2, 2021
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Mina Sartipi, the founding director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP), and Mr. Kevin Comstock, the Smart Cities Director for the City of Chattanooga, TN. The show goes live at 7:00 PM Eastern so be sure to join us and bring your questions.
View the video:
Civic Sparks Live with Brent Messer https://t.co/mcPDXMPTFa
— D. Brent Messer (@dbmesser) December 3, 2021
About our Guests
Mina Sartipi, Ph.D.
Dr. Mina Sartipi is the Founding Director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), where she is also a Guerry Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department. Her research, funded by NSF, NIH, DOE, State of Tennessee, Lyndhurst Foundation, and other industry organizations, focuses on data-driven approaches to tackle real-world challenges in smart city applications focused on mobility, energy, and health. At CUIP, she coordinates cross-disciplinary research and strategic visions for urbanism and smart cities advancement with a focus on people and quality of life. She received her BS in Electrical Engineering from the Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 2001 and her MS and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Georgia Tech in 2003 and 2006, respectively.
Dr. Sartipi is a member of various technical program committees for several workshops and conferences on topics related to AI and smart city operations. She was named a 2019 Chattanooga Influencer by the Edge, Chattanooga’s business magazine, for her role in smart city research and collaboration with city, county, and industry partners. She is the recipient of several awards including the 2016 UTC Outstanding Faculty Research and Creative Achievement Award, UC Foundation Professorship, and 2020 Smart 50 awards in Digital Transformation at the Smart Cities Connect (in collaboration with the City of Chattanooga and EPB). She has delivered several keynotes and presentations including presentations to the US Congressional Caucus on Smart Cities, the Smart Cities Connect conference, and the National Transportation Training Directors. Dr. Sartipi has been an IEEE senior member since 2016. She serves on the board of directors for startups and non-profit organizations.
Kevin Comstock
With 40 years of experience in the transportation industry and currently serves as the Smart City Director for the City of Chattanooga, TN. He has held various positions in local and state government performing the design and construction of numerous Transportation and Telecommunications projects. His specialties include project management and strategic planning.
Kevin graduated summa cum laude from Middle Tennessee State University with a BS in Professional Studies and a concentration in Organizational Leadership. Kevin currently serves on two advisory boards at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) Advisory Board and the Civil Engineering Advisory Board. He is engaged in many collaborative projects with Oak Ridge National Lab, and the National Renewable Energy Lab and served as a US DOE Vehicle Technology Office Merit Reviewer for 2019 and 2020.
He and his wife of 45 years spend much of their time with their two sons and
five grandchildren.