The founding and first Director of the Center was Dr. Ragaei El Mallakh, Professor of Economics at the University of Colorado at Boulder from 1956 until his death in 1987. The Executive Director of the Center since 1987, Dr. Dorothea El Mallakh, has had extensive experience and training in energy affairs for over 30 years. She holds a B.A. in foreign languages (Lewis and Clark College), and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. El Mallakh has authored and edited a number of works and was Associate Editor of The Journal of Energy and Development from its inception until 1987 when she became the Managing Editor. In 1988, Dr. El Mallakh became Executive Vice President and Secretary of the International Association of Energy Economics; from 1990 through 1991 she served as Vice President-Elect and Vice President of International Affairs of that organization. Among the honors she has held are the Perrine Memorial Graduate Fellowship (University of Colorado), National Defense Rare Language Fellowship (1961-1962, 1963), and the Rotary International Fellowship. In June 2011, Dr. Dorothea El Mallakh was recognized by the Boulder Chamber of Commerce for her work in the field of energy at the Women Who Light the Community Awards, having been nominated by a group of 20+ energy professionals worldwide.
Aside from the Director, the Center staff comprises part-time members, student staff assistants (usually two to four per semester), and one to two graduate or postgraduate researchers.