Debora F. Rodrigues selected as new chair of the Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences

Debora F. Rodrigues has been appointed to serve as chair of Clemson University’s Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, effective Aug. 15.

Her well-rounded research credentials, exceptional leadership skills and extensive experience in fostering international, multidisciplinary and translational research uniquely qualify her to lead the department.

Rodrigues’ appointment was announced Aug. 5 in an email from Jesus M. de la Garza, the director, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, and Anand Gramopadhye, the dean of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences.

Rodrigues joins Clemson from the University of Houston, where she served as the Ezekiel Cullen Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and director of the Environmental Engineering Graduate Program ​​in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

She is also the current president of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.

Her recent career milestones include service as a program officer for several National Science Foundation (NSF) initiatives, including: Partnership for Innovation, Mid-Career Advancement, BioDesign, Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier, and Accelerating Research Translation. She also served as a co-program director for the NSF Engineering Research Center program.

Rodrigues’ multidisciplinary research encompasses environmental engineering, environmental microbiology, molecular genetics, and materials sciences and engineering.

She has published more than 110 papers with over 8,733 citations and mentored numerous Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows. Dr. Rodrigues has received several prestigious honors, including the NSF CAREER Award and the C3E Research Award in Water-Energy Nexus from the U.S. Department of Energy. Her contributions were noted by the National Academy of Engineering, which invited her to participate in the Frontiers of Engineering program.

Rodrigues is deeply committed to mentorship. She has helped junior and mid-career faculty members secure significant research funding and students obtain scholarships from a variety of sources.

She has also developed impactful outreach programs, such as the NSF-funded project for teachers recognized by President Obama’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Her efforts in fostering international partnerships and industry-academia collaborations have significantly advanced research and education initiatives.

“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the search committee, including its chair, Tim DeVol, for their diligent efforts in the search for a new department chair,” de la Garza and Gramopadhye said in a joint statement. “We also thank outgoing chair, David Freedman, for his many outstanding years of service to the department.

“As we move forward into a new academic year, please join us in welcoming Dr. Debora F. Rodrigues to her new role. We are excited to work with her as she leads the department and helps us propel the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences to greater heights.”