Associate Professor, Dept. of Environmental & Civil Engineering
Director, Cecil Day Family Center for International Groundwater Innovation
Program Director, Engineering for Development
MERCER UNIVERSITY (Macon, Georgia, USA)
e4d.mercer.edu @E4D_Mercer
Director, Cecil Day Family Center for International Groundwater Innovation
Program Director, Engineering for Development
MERCER UNIVERSITY (Macon, Georgia, USA)
e4d.mercer.edu @E4D_Mercer
Engineering for Development expert (Water Supply, Indoor Air, Sanitation, & Hygiene; Household Technologies; Accessibility & Mobility; Energy Poverty; and Social Marketing & Social Change). 25 years of experience in engineering and international development, including a decade living and working at the grassroots level in less-developed countries (including as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, an infrastructure and community development engineer in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, & Mauritania, and an engineering for development researcher in Madagascar, Bolivia, South Africa, Mozambique, & the Dominican Republic). French and Spanish speaking.
Mike leads the Engineering for Development [E4D] program at Mercer University, which focuses on sustainable solutions for people and the planet, both internationally and domestically, through education, service, and applied research. Over the past several years, the E4D program has been a leader in national undergraduate research recognition, including with five E4D student researchers being awarded the Goldwater Scholarship (the most prestigious U.S. undergraduate scholarship in science, math, and engineering). Since 2020, Mike also leads the Cecil Day Family Center for International Groundwater Innovation, newly founded with a generous gift from Deen Day Sanders.
Recipient of the Outstanding New Faculty Research Award, presented by The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Southeast Section, 2019
Recipient of the Innovations in Teaching Award, presented by Vulcan Materials Company, Georgia Independent College Association, & Mercer University, 2018
Peace Corps Prep Program Advisor, Mercer University School of Engineering
Mike leads the Engineering for Development [E4D] program at Mercer University, which focuses on sustainable solutions for people and the planet, both internationally and domestically, through education, service, and applied research. Over the past several years, the E4D program has been a leader in national undergraduate research recognition, including with five E4D student researchers being awarded the Goldwater Scholarship (the most prestigious U.S. undergraduate scholarship in science, math, and engineering). Since 2020, Mike also leads the Cecil Day Family Center for International Groundwater Innovation, newly founded with a generous gift from Deen Day Sanders.
Recipient of the Outstanding New Faculty Research Award, presented by The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Southeast Section, 2019
Recipient of the Innovations in Teaching Award, presented by Vulcan Materials Company, Georgia Independent College Association, & Mercer University, 2018
Peace Corps Prep Program Advisor, Mercer University School of Engineering
RESEARCH & SERVICE INTERESTS
Engineering for Development
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) for developing communities, including:
- Accessibility & Mobility
- Sustainability at the Humanitarian-Development Nexus
- Social Marketing and Social Change
- Engineering for Development Education
TEACHING
EDUCATION
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Engineering for Development
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) for developing communities, including:
- Low-Cost Groundwater Development (manual drilling techniques, sustainable handpumps, cost-effective boreholes)
- Self-Supply
- Environmental Sanitation
- Accessibility & Mobility
- Sustainability at the Humanitarian-Development Nexus
- Social Marketing and Social Change
- Engineering for Development Education
TEACHING
- Dominican Republic Research & Service: EVE 491/591, CSL 210 Water, Sanitation, Energy, and Sustainable Development in Latin America & the Caribbean (Summer 2022, Summer semesters 2017-2021)
- EVE 490 Groundwater Hydrology (Fall semesters 2014-2020)
- EVE 611 Research Methods in Engineering for Development (Fall 2016, Fall 2018, Fall 2020)
- EVE 412/512 Green Engineering (Fall 2015, Spring semesters 2017-2021)
- EVE 384 Engineering Hydraulics (Spring semesters 2015-2021)
- EGR 410/ EVE 511 Engineering for Development (Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2019)
- EGR 107 Introduction to Engineering Design (Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018)
- Madagascar Research & Service: EVE 491/591, CSL 210 Water, Sanitation, Energy, and Sustainable Development in sub-Saharan Africa (Summer 2016)
- ENV 6510 Sustainable Development Engineering / PHC 6301 Water Pollution & Treatment (co-taught 5 times, University of South Florida)
- International Capstone Field Experience in Bolivia (co-taught 1 semester, University of South Florida)
- International Capstone Design (co-taught 1 semester, University of South Florida)
EDUCATION
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Civil Engineering (Water Resources specialty), University of South Florida, 2014
- Graduate Certificate in Social Marketing and Public Health, University of South Florida, 2014
- Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering for Development, University of Southampton (England), 2004
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering (Civil specialty, Environmental Science & Engineering minor), Colorado School of Mines, 1998
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- 2020 - present: Director and Founder, Cecil Day Family Center for International Groundwater Innovation, Mercer University
- 2020 - present: Associate Professor of Environmental & Civil Engineering, Mercer University (Georgia, USA)
- 2014 - present: Program Director, Engineering for Development, Mercer University
- 2020 - present: Special Graduate Faculty, University of Guelph (Canada)
- 2018 - present: Associate Editor & Member of the Editorial Board, Hydrogeology Journal (International Association of Hydrogeologists)
- 2014 - present: Advisory Board Member, World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Social Marketing and Social Change
- 2014 - 2020: Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering, Mercer University (Georgia, USA)
- 2010 - 2014: Lead Researcher, University of South Florida partnership with CRS & CARE International WASH program in Madagascar
- 2009 - 2014: Research Associate and Instructor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida (USA)
- 2006 - 2008: Public Health Engineer/Coordinator, Oxfam GB (Mali)
- 2004 - 2006: Country Engineering Advisor / Program Engineer, GOAL Ireland (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- 2002 - 2004: Development Research Engineer, University of Southampton (England) and Partners in Development (South Africa)
- 2001 - 2002: Resident Field Engineer, McLaughlin Water Engineers (USA)
- 1999 - 2001: Environmental & Water Resources Engineer, Peace Corps (Cameroon)
- 1998, 2001: Staff Field Engineer, GTG/PSI Geotechnical and Environmental Services (USA)
- 1996 - 1997: Engineering Assistant, Office of Planning & Construction, Colorado School of Mines (USA)