Meet Sarah Hipel—a proud Detroiter and leader at the intersection of electrification, cybersecurity, and mobility. She’s currently Chief Strategist at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where she helps shape how our energy and transportation systems stay connected, secure, and sustainable. Sarah’s career spans roles at Rivian, Ford, and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, giving her a front-row seat to the real challenges startups face when bringing EV and electrified mobility tech to market. Sarah is especially excited about working with students on real-world problems alongside industry partners. Sarah brings deep technical expertise, public-sector insight, and a passion for mentoring—helping students turn big ideas into deployable solutions that make a tangible impact.
BS Science, Analytic Philosophy, Eastern Michigan University