Garner awarded Jack H. Samples Professorship to address critical water system challenges

Emily Garner has been selected as newest Jack H. Samples Professorship. (WVU Photo/Paige Nesbit)

Emily Garner, associate professor in the Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at West Virginia University, has been awarded the Jack H. Samples Professorship in the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.

Story by Emily Handrahan Writer/Storyteller

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

The Jack H. Samples Professorship recognizes faculty members who demonstrate distinguished achievements in teaching, research and service, along with national stature and practical engineering experience. Funds associated with the position may be used to support activities that benefit the department and the Statler College.

“I am deeply honored to be named the Jack H. Samples Professor in the Wadsworth Department,” Garner said. “As a proud alumna of the Statler College, this recognition is especially meaningful to me.”

“My research addresses water quality and treatment challenges in drinking water and wastewater systems, with a focus on rural infrastructure, emerging contaminants, and public health protection,” Garner said.

“I first developed a passion for research in the area of environmental engineering as an undergraduate at WVU, where I began to appreciate the critical role water systems play in protecting public health,” Garner said.

Garner earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from WVU in 2013 and received her PhD in the same discipline from Virginia Tech in 2018.

“What inspired me to pursue these areas was realizing that some of the most complex and consequential water quality challenges occur in resource-limited settings, where sound engineering design, informed by good science, can make a tangible difference,” Garner said.

In addition to her research and teaching, Garner participates in outreach activities, including engaging with K-12 students through programs such as Statler College Engineering Challenge Camps, where she discusses drinking water and wastewater treatment.

"It is a privilege to do work I care about each day by teaching and mentoring students while collaborating with small water and wastewater utilities across West Virginia to improve infrastructure, water quality, and public health,” Garner said. “This professorship will help advance my team's efforts to develop practical, research-informed solutions that make a lasting difference for communities throughout the state and beyond.”

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