Committee Descriptions

2023 Conference Planning

Chair: Phil Larese-Casanova (Northeastern University)

The conference planning committee will be composed of members of the host institutions selected for the 2023 AEESP Research and Education Conference. The committee will work together to plan and host the conference in June 2023.

Awards Committee

Chair: Helen Nguyen (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Members of the Awards Committee manage and coordinate the AEESP and joint AEESP/AAEES awards process. Members are needed each year to evaluate award nominations, a process that takes place in the spring or early summer of each year.  Separate Award subcommittees also work to evaluate MS thesis and PhD dissertation award nominations and joint nominations with AAEES. Awards are given out at the Research and Education AEESP conference, or at WEFTEC on alternate years.  Awards Committee Chair Term: 3 years.

Conference Site Selection Committee

Chair: Josh Sharp (Colorado School of Mines)

Members of the Conference Site Selection Committee work together to develop and disseminate a request for proposals to host the AEESP Research and Education Conference that is held every two year. The committee then evaluates proposals received from potential host committees and makes a recommendation to the AEESP Board of Directors.

Education Committee

Chair: Karl Rockne (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Members of this committee focus on a range of activities to promote innovation within environmental engineering education. This includes examining problem-based learning modules and reviewing textbooks in the field of environmental engineering and science. The committee has also coordinated the sharing of classroom and laboratory activities among members of the association. In past year, the committee has administered surveys the membership with respect to textbooks in water and wastewater treatment, and introductory environmental engineering.

Environmental Engineering Program Leaders Committee

Chair: John Sutherland, Chair (Purdue University)

The Environmental Engineering Program Leaders Committee (EEPLC) was created to provide a platform for connections between the leaders of departments and programs with a focus on environmental engineering. As the field of environmental engineering has continued to evolve and expand, there is a need for environmental engineering program leaders to have resources for strengthening and growing their programs through networking with other program leaders and interacting as a common body with relevant professional societies and organizations (e.g., AAEES, ASCE, ABET, ASEE, ACS, AGU, ASM).

Fellows Committee

Chair: Lynn Katz (University of Texas at Austin)

This committee evaluates nominations for AEESP fellows on an annual basis. AEESP members that have demonstrated the highest levels of teaching, research and/or service in the environmental engineering or science professorate, may be nominated as Fellows. Eligibility for becoming a Fellow also includes 10 years of faculty-level membership in good standing in AEESP. A Steering Committee initiates and oversees activities of the Fellows including facilitating the nomination and selection of new AEESP Fellows.  AEESP Fellows may provide service to the AEESP Board at the discretion of the Steering Committee.

Government Affairs Committee

Chair: Baikun Li, Chair (University of Connecticut)

Members of the Government Affairs Committee work closely with the Board of Directors on matters where AEESP needs a voice in governmental agencies.  Specific activities include 1) developing AEESP policies that will promote the field and provide opportunities for its membership, and 2) initiating and overseeing reviews of relevant public policy statements and provide public comment as deemed necessary, and 3) coordinating AEESP’s government affairs activities with those of other related associations, e.g. American Chemical Society, American Society of Civil Engineers, Water Environment Federation, Environmental Protection Network. 4) Nominating AEESP members for key positions in government agencies and membership on advisory committees, and 5) communicating AEESP priorities to legislators.

Internet Resources Committee

Chair: Courtney Gardner (Washington State University)

Members of the Internet Resources Committee engage in a number of activities aimed at managing AEESP’s internet presence. Three major activities include maintaining news postings on the AEESP website, send appropriate email announcement through the AEESP listserv, and managing social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn). The committee also works closely with the AEESP Board and business office to address emerging issues related to the internet presence of AEESP. 

To submit items to the AEESP membership listserv, send your item in an email to the listserv@aeesp.org. Attachments may be included, but these have a higher likelihood of being stopped by member email filters.

The listserv is monitored by the Internet Resources Committee to avoid spam, and postings may take several days to appear. If you receive an error message when you send your email, please ignore it. Messages are going through. If your item does not appear within a week, feel free to contact the Webmaster.

Lecturers Committee

Chair: Joshua Fu (University of Tennessee Knoxville)

Members of the Lecturers committee work to annually select the AEESP Distinguished Lecturer and the Distinguished Lecturer host institutions, and to assist in logistical arrangements for this lecture series.  In addition, this committee is involved in the selection of the AEESP lecturers for a number of other AEESP-sponsored events, including the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE); AWWA WQTC, A&WMA Meet and Greet Breakfast, WEFTEC Scientists Luncheon and Research Symposium, and the American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) Lecture.

Membership and Demographics committee

Chair: Matthew Verbyla (San Diego State University)

Members of the Membership and Demographics Committee work together on a range of activities that seek to enhance student and faculty diversity within the environmental engineering and science community. Specific activities include identifying the methods by which groups within NSF, the EWC and the Census Bureau obtain data on populations in environmental engineering, identifying types of demographic data for environmental engineering and science programs that would provide useful benchmarks for the AEESP membership, and periodically updating and analyzing trends in demographics among environmental engineering and science professionals, university programs in these areas and within the AEESP itself.

Newsletter Editor

Chair: Kyle Doudrick (University of Notre Dame)

The Newsletter Editor is responsible for preparing the three AEESP Newsletters three times year (January, May, and November). The Editor solicits contributions from AEESP members and the Board members.

Nominating Committee

Chair: Allison MacKay (The Ohio State University)

This committee, composed of the three most recent past presidents of AEESP, is charged with the task of nominating candidates to stand for election to the Board of Directors. The Bylaws require that the committee nominate at least six candidates for consideration each year.

Publications Committee

Chair: David Ladner (Clemson University)

Members of the Publications Committee identify and coordinate opportunities for publication of AEESP-themed publications. They also serve coordinate association interactions with Environmental Engineering Science, the association’s official journal, developing ideas for special themed issues. The Publications Committee also currently writes highlights of articles published in the AEESP journal, Environmental Engineering Science.  The Publications Committee is also responsible for the selection of the AEESP/Mary Ann Liebert Award for Publication Excellence in Environmental Engineering Science.

Strategic Planning Committee

Chair: ad hoc when needed

This committee, organized on an ad hoc basis by the Board of Directors, performs a strategic planning exercise for the Association, to set the priorities and agenda for the Association in the future.

Student and Post-Doc Services Committee

Chair: Fabrizio Sabba (Black and Veatch)

Members of the Student and Post-Doc Services Committee coordinate several activities aimed at providing current and prospective students and postdoctoral scholars with information and resources regarding professional development and post-graduation employment.  To this end, the Committee organizes job application review workshops at AEESP conferences, virtual job application review opportunities, and maintains a wiki website on career development.  The Committee also investigates ways to improve communication and community among graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

Sustaining Member Engagement Committee

Chair: Karl Linden (University of Colorado Boulder)

The Sustaining Member Engagement Committee connects regularly with the AEESP sustaining members via email and phone to facilitate involvement in AEESP activities, such as involvement in the AEESP Conference, development of webinars, and access to current students for professional opportunities.