Group manager from National Renewable Energy Lab named ASHRAE president

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) announced this week the appointment of Sheila Hayter as president of the society.

Hayter is a group manager of strategy, policy, and implementation with the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). She will maintain that role in addition to her new position with ASHRAE where she will serve a term that also bears with it an auspicious marker. Hayter is only the second woman to be appointed organization since its founding in 1894. For her term’s focus, Hayter intends to press innovation.

“I plan to use this amazing opportunity as president to maximize every moment in ways that educate, spur new conversations, and shift the perspective on how buildings can impact our energy future,” Hayter said. “Leveraging my NREL and ASHRAE experiences, I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the transition toward higher efficiency and incorporating advanced technologies in the built environment.”

As she navigates the helm of ASHRAE, Hayter will also chair its Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She comes to the position from a background as a registered professional engineer. Her father, Richard Hayter, served as ASHRAE president from 1995 to 1996.

She holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s in the same from Kansas State University.