Sharon L. Walker
Sharon L. Walker is an academic leader and environmental engineering expert. Currently, she serves as the Dean of Drexel University's College of Engineering and holds the position of Distinguished Professor of Civil,Architectural, and Environmental Engineering. She is also the Executive Director of ELATES at Drexel, a national leadershipdevelopmentprogram dedicated to increasing the representation of women in STEM fields. Her role extends to being a courtesy faculty member in the Department of Chemical andBiological Engineeringand the Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science at Drexel.
She earned her PhD in Environmental Engineering and an MS in Chemical Engineering fromYale University, following her undergraduate studies in Environmental Engineering at theUniversity of Southern California.Her research focuses on water quality systems, particularly on the fate and transport of bacterial pathogens and nanomaterials in aquatic environments. She has published 250 conference papers and publications. Her work has explored critical issues such as water quality, food safety, and the impact of nanomaterials on the environment. She has also been a Fulbright Fellow and a recipient of the NSF Career Award,
Before joining Drexel, Sharon held significant academic leadership roles atthe University of California, Riverside(UCR). She served as Interim Dean of the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering and was the John Babbage Chair in Environmental Engineering. During her time at UCR, she also contributed to student academic affairs and was actively involved in mentoring students, earning her recognition such as the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement.
Sharon is also known for her contributions to advancing diversity in STEM. At Drexel, through the ELATES program, she promotes leadership opportunities for women in engineering and science. She received accolades including fellowships with the Association forEnvironmentalEngineering and Science Professors (AEESP), the Winifred Burks-Houck Professional Leadership Award, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE).
She is an active member of several professional organisations, including the American Chemical Society (ACS) the Engineering Deans Council of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and the Association of Women in Science.
