You’re Invited! Seminar and reception honoring Dr. Tom Keinath

This is a special announcement about an exciting event! Fifty years ago, Dr. Tom Keinath joined Clemson University and the Department of Environmental Systems Engineering as an assistant professor and went on to have a lasting impact on Clemson and the environmental engineering profession.

To mark the anniversary, we have invited Dr. Keinath and his family back to Clemson to celebrate, and you are invited. We’ll be gathering on Friday, Oct. 25, at 2:30 p.m. in the  L. G. Rich Environmental Research Laboratory, Auditorium.

A highlight of the event will be a departmental seminar given by Dr. Glen Daigger. Dr. Daigger is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He is currently a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan. Prior to that, Dr. Daigger was the senior vice president and chief technology officer for CH2M HILL, a global consulting firm. He was also chair of the Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Clemson University from 1994 to 1996.Dr. Daigger will reflect on the contributions made by Dr. Keinath and place those in the context of new advances at the interface of physicochemical and biological treatment of wastewater.

A reception following the seminar will be a great opportunity to say hello to Dr. Keinath and share some memories of your time at Clemson.

Many of you may be aware of Dr. Keinath’s achievements, but it’s also worth recapping his impactful career. He rose through the ranks to become a full professor, chair of the department, and later dean of the College of Engineering and Science. Dr. Keinath made critical contributions to the field of environmental engineering through his pioneering research on sedimentation of activated sludge. He also made lasting contributions to the profession, having completed two two-year terms as president of the London-based International Water Association and as chair of its Executive Committee and Governing Board. He served the American Society of Civil Engineers as chair of its Clarifier Research Technical Committee. Dr. Keinath also led the Association of Environmental Engineering Professors as its president and he chaired the 150-member Program Committee of the Water Environment Federation for three years. He was also active on several committees and panels of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Sciences.  Clearly, Dr. Keinath has made a lasting impact on Clemson University and the environmental engineering profession in general.

We look forward to celebrating Dr. Keinath’s remarkable career with you on Friday, October 25!

—David L. Freedman
Professor and Chair