News

Please welcome our newest ARCS MWC member, Dr. Jeanne Van Briesen. Jeanne is sponsored by Elli Nesbitt and was a 1992-97 ARCS Scholar at Northwestern University. She was also the first ARCS Alumni Hall of Fame inductee in 2016, cited for her influence on water quality, sustainability, and engineering practices through research; contributions to water policy; and for mentoring the next generation of engineers.

Jeanne is currently Dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Prior to joining UMBC, Jeanne was the Duquesne Light Company Professor in the departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon and, before that, division director in the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems, in the Engineering Directorate, at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). At the start of her career, she was a high school chemistry and physics teacher.

Jeanne has conducted important research on water quality and sustainability that impacts local, state, national, and international policy and engineering practices. Her research is in environmental systems. Besides her teaching, mentoring, and scientific innovation, Jeanne is a member of numerous boards, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board. She has a firm belief that engineers should be leaders across all segments of society and is active in numerous scientific and educational societies and outreach programs. She has recived many awards, has presented at hundreds of conferences and seminars, and published more than 50 scientific papers with 2,800+ citations.

Jeanne demonstrates a passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation of engineers – especially women -- and is a founding member of ARCS Foundation Pittsburgh Chapter.