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COLLEGE OF ¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥

SUSTAINABLE ¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥

A professors talks with students in a classroom.

Sustainable Engineering is a cross-cutting discipline within the engineering profession.

As the earth’s population grows and standards of living rise, engineers are being called upon to play leadership roles in sustainable development and to find solutions to global challenges such as the depletion of natural resources, environmental degradation and damage to ecosystems.

Engineers are at the forefront of making decisions with long-term implications for the planet, and must balance the needs of today’s global population with those of generations to come.

Programs

One of the first of its kind in the country, ¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥ University’s Sustainable Engineering master's degree program prepares students to use a whole-systems approach to problem-solving through a lifecycle lens. 

¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥ also offers the Sustainable Enterprise Executive Education & Development (SEED) program, a graduate certificate, and PhD concentration in the area of Sustainable Engineering.

Undergraduates may pursue a minor in Sustainable Engineering or Sustainability Studies (interdisciplinary), as well as a related minor in Humanitarian Engineering.

Initiatives

In addition to its academic programs, ¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥ is advancing two initiatives:

The Resilient Innovation through Sustainable Engineering (RISE) Forum: The nation’s first and only initiative to address issues of corporate sustainability and sustainable enterprise through the discipline of engineering, RISE serves as a vehicle for academic–industry collaboration.

The ¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥ Sustainable Engineering for International Development Initiative: This initiative will equip a generation of engineers to meet the challenge set forth by the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which serve as a global compass for achieving human and economic development that is both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.

 

RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS

Students are encouraged to pursue research opportunities in the areas of:

  • Alternative & Renewable Energy
  • Sustainable Infrastructure
  • Sustainable Materials
  • Sustainable Systems
  • Water Resources Sustainability

Dr. Bridget Wadzuk
Director of Sustainable Engineering
Professor, Edward A. Daylor Chair in Civil Engineering

Lexi George
Program Coordinator
Email:Ìýlexi.george@villanova.edu

VILLANOVA ¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥

FEATURED FACULTY

BILL LORENZ

Bill Lorenz is the founder and director of ¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥'s Sustainable Engineering graduate program, a field in which he has more than 45 years of experience. He previously worked for the Sun Oil Company, first in the refineries and then at the corporate level. During his tenure, he established new air, water, hazardous waste and audit programs that coincided with the development and implementation of the nation’s first sets of federal legislation. In 1984, Lorenz cofounded Environmental Resources Management and established the company's management consulting practice. MORE...

ROSS LEE, PHD

Dr. Ross Lee, Director of Research for the Sustainable Engineering Program, is responsible for the sustainable materials track and for advising master’s and PhD research. He teaches the core Sustainable Materials and Design course and a cross-disciplinary, cross-level Biomimicry course. Dr. Lee has advised more than 60 master’s thesis students. MORE...

KARL SCHMIDT

Karl Schmidt develops and teaches graduate sustainability courses for the College of Engineering and ¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥ School of Business’ MBA Program. He also serves as the director of the RISE Forum, which helps to advance member companies’ sustainability efforts through applied research and graduate student team projects. Prior to joining ¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥, Schmidt was an executive at Johnson & Johnson for 28 years. He has successfully leveraged his executive experience in environmental affairs, process excellence and global supply chain management to inform the Sustainable Engineering graduate program’s curricular offerings. MORE...

PROGRAM NEWS

Dr. Bridget Wadzuk

Dr. Bridget Wadzuk Receives 2024 Outstanding Faculty Research Award

The professor of Civil Engineering and director of Sustainable Engineering was recognized for her work in water resources engineering and green stormwater infrastructure, most notably her research on the evapotranspiration process from green roofs and bioretention.

¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥ University Launches Sustainable Enterprise Executive Education & Development Program

¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥ University Launches Sustainable Enterprise Executive Education & Development Program

Bringing together a commitment to lifelong learning with a passion for sustainability, ¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥ University announces the launch of SEED—Sustainable Enterprise Executive Education & Development. Combining the leadership expertise of faculty from the highly ranked ¸ÌéÙÖ±²¥ School of Business with the technical knowledge of professors in the College of Engineering’s first-of-its-kind Sustainable Engineering program, SEED is for experienced professionals interested in creating value by designing and incorporating sustainability practices into their business environments.

Karl Schmidt

First Commercial-Scale Wind Farm in the U.S. Would Generate Electricity to Power 400,000 Homes

The Vineyard Wind project is part of a larger push to tackle climate change, with other offshore wind projects along the east coast under federal review. Sustainable Engineering’s Karl Schmidt speaks to the impacts and the value of a life cycle assessment for wind energy initiatives.