He serves as Chair of the College of Business Strategic Planning Committee. Dr. Essila has also held top management positions in the oil and gas, transportation, and automotive industries, at corporations including ExxonMobil, Perenco, International Business Corporation, PWV Inc., and Johnson Controls North America. He was the recipient of the 2004 ExxonMobil Merit Award “in Recognition of His Outstanding Contribution to the Vision and Values of the ExxonMobil Organization.” Dr. Essila earned a Doctor of Engineering degree from the George Washington University.