Melanie Littlejohn, who holds an MBA from Syracuse University, is regional executive director, focused on Upstate New York, for the utility National Grid.

Q: For addressing climate change, what contribution do you see coming from colleges and universities?

A: First, developing the minds of young people to rise to the challenge. This is not only an engineering challenge. It will require a broad education spanning public policy, economics, sociology, and ethics. Second, university research is key to advancing innovation in energy. And finally, universities are anchors of their communities, and their campuses can be living laboratories for testing and scaling up new solutions in energy.

Syracuse University is a center of research and scholarship. National Grid is regularly asked to endorse grant applications in both technical and policy areas, and we do so with the knowledge that the successful support of research at the University makes us both stronger.

Q: How optimistic are you that climate change is within our power to control or even reverse?

A: I am very optimistic. I am also very realistic. We must build sustainable solutions that engage everyone with a stake in our energy future be-cause none of us can do it alone. Energy companies, academia, policymakers, and other innovators must work hand in hand to ensure this happens. Innovation, commitment, and a diverse group of partners at the table will help us reach the clean energy future we all want.