Elizabeth Morel, a 20-year manufacturing and operations leader in the oil, gas, and chemical industries, has been selected as the next director of the Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
The Nebraska MEP is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program. Residing within the U.S. Department of Commerce, MEP’s primary mission is to strengthen and empower small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers through state-designated MEP Centers located across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. The program comprises nearly 1,400 trusted manufacturing advisors and experts at more than 450 MEP service locations. The Nebraska MEP’s cooperative agreement with the University of Nebraska was established in 2014 and currently reports to the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Morel most recently served as Head of Manufacturing for Monolith Materials in Hallam, Nebraska, where she led an operational team of 100+ employees in end-to-end manufacturing operations for Monolith’s methane pyrolysis‑based carbon black and hydrogen production. Morel also served in other leadership and engineering roles while at Monolith and ExxonMobil refinery operations. “Liz will bring the experience and visionary leadership to the Nebraska MEP that will ensure that we are doing our part to support manufacturing throughout the state,” says Richard Bischoff, associate vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, who led the search committee.
Morel graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. As an undergraduate, she also participated in National Science Foundation programs, the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, and the Washington Internships for Students of Engineering (WISE) program with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Morel starts her position on January 26.
