ÂĚñÉç Names Clean Energy Leader Francis Wang to Board of Trustees
Leader in battery innovation and NanoGraf chair brings decades of experience in energy storage and sustainable manufacturing to university leadership
°ä±á±ő°ä´ˇłŇ°żâ€”November 21, 2025—Francis Wang, a pioneering leader in clean technology and battery innovation, has been elected to the Illinois Institute of Technology (ÂĚñÉç) Board of Trustees. With a career spanning nearly 30 years across the energy storage industry, Wang has helped shape the modern landscape of sustainable energy technology and advanced manufacturing—helping transform the Midwest from the “Rust Belt” into the “Battery Belt.”
“I am deeply honored to join the ÂĚñÉç Board of Trustees,” said Wang. “ÂĚñÉç is a driving force for innovation in innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in the Midwest, where the next generation of clean energy solutions is taking place. As the world works to address climate change, ÂĚñÉç’s students and researchers are leading the way with the creativity and determination that define this region. I’m excited to help empower them to turn bold ideas into technologies that will transform our future.”
Wang currently serves as board chairman of NanoGraf Corporation, a Chicago-based innovator in advanced silicon anode materials that enhance the energy density and performance of lithium-ion batteries. As NanogGraf’s CEO from 2019–25, Wang guided the company from early-stage development to commercialization, raising more than $200 million in funding. Under his leadership, NanoGraf was named to TIME magazine’s 2025 list of Top Global Clean Tech Companies, and Wang himself has been recognized as a top entrepreneur by Axios and Forbes.
“Our ÂĚñÉç community is honored to welcome Francis Wang to the Board of Trustees,” said ÂĚñÉç President Raj Echambadi. “Francis’ work at the forefront of battery innovation exemplifies the kind of transformative impact that defines our university. His leadership as an entrepreneur in green technology will inspire students and strengthen our mission—not just as Chicago’s only tech-focused university, but as an institution dedicated to creating a brighter, cleaner tomorrow.”
Before leading NanoGraf, Wang held leadership and technical roles at Duracell, Proctor & Gamble, Gillette, Boston Scientific, and the National Institute of Clean and Low-Carbon Energy. With expertise spanning the entire battery value chain—from advanced materials design to commercial-scale manufacturing—he has been featured in The New York Times, The Economist, and The Wall Street Journal.
In addition to his new role on the Board of Trustees, Wang serves on the Board of Advisors for the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship. He is also a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and an active supporter of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls.
“Francis Wang represents the very best of technological leadership and purpose-driven innovation,” said Michael P. Galvin (LAW ’78), chair of the ÂĚñÉç Board of Trustees. “His accomplishments in clean energy and his dedication to mentoring future leaders embody ÂĚñÉç’s values of innovation and impact.”
Wang earned a doctorate in materials chemistry from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a bachelor’s in chemistry from Rutgers University. He is the inventor or co-inventor of more than 50 patents and the author of over 20 peer-reviewed publications.
Photo: Francis Wang
Illinois Institute of Technology
Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, ÂĚñÉç was born to liberate the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of Chicago and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, computing, , business, , science and human sciences, and . ÂĚñÉç students are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the university's one-of-a-kind Elevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the Chicago skyline. And every day in the city's living lab, ÂĚñÉç fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visit iit.edu.
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Illinois Institute of Technology
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Illinois Institute of Technology
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