The Academic Affairs Office serves the Cockrell School of Engineering and the seven engineering departments by overseeing faculty and curriculum matters including:
Faculty
Academics
Associate Dean
Dr. Gerald E. Speitel Jr.
Dr. Speitel has been active in treatment process research for over 25 years, focusing primarily on hazardous chemicals. His research has investigated biological processes in drinking water treatment and groundwater remediation, adsorption, disinfection by-products and their precursors, disinfectant chemistry, and mathematical modeling of the fate and transport of chemicals in the subsurface and engineered treatment processes. One major research emphasis has been the development of bioreactors for the cometabolism of halogenated aliphatic chemicals, such as trichlorethylene and trihalomethanes. A second area of research activity has addressed the simultaneous biodegradation and adsorption of organic chemicals on granular activated carbon. More recently, his research has examined the chemistry and treatment of disinfection by-products formed during chloramination and chlorination of drinking water, as well as the chemistry of chloramines and bromine-substituted haloamines.
Dr. Speitel's
research has included bench-scale studies, pilot studies, and performance
evaluations of full-scale facilities in collaboration with various utilities and
consulting engineering firms. Dr. Speitel serves on the Peer Review Editorial
Board of the Journal American Water Works Association and is responsible for the
review of papers in the area of advanced treatment processes. His research has
been recognized by national awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers,
the American Water Works Association, and the Association of Environmental
Engineering and Science Professors. Dr. Speitel served as Chair of the
Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering for the seven
years prior to his appointment as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
More information about Dr. Speitel may be obtained from his
home page.
Executive Assistant: Sonya
Shaffer
Administrative Associate: Terri
Lavorgna