Barlaz Named Department Head

Dr. Morton Barlaz has been named head of the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, effective August 1. He replaces Dr. George List, who has led the department since 2005.

Barlaz, an expert in solid waste management, is currently a professor and director of the department’s environmental engineering laboratory. His research focuses on microbial ecology and degradation processes in landfills. A faculty member since 1989, he was the associate department head from 1998 to 2006.

Barlaz has published more than 80 peer-reviewed papers and has received numerous research and education awards. He has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on more than $8 million in grants and contracts throughout his career.

He received the Distinguished Individual Achievement Award from the Solid Waste Association of North America in 2004 and the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors in 2003 and 2009. The American Academy of Environmental Engineers designated Barlaz as a Kappe Lecturer in 2010.