Our fall 2023 Innovators and Motivators podcast hosts Dr. Ashlynn S. Stillwell, an Associate Professor and the Elaine F. and William J. Hall Excellence Faculty Scholar in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri (2006), and an M.S. in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (2010), M.P.Aff in Public Affairs (2010), and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (2013) from The University of Texas at Austin. Her previous positions include consulting engineering at Burns & McDonnell (2006-2007) and policy research at the Congressional Research Service (2009).

Dr. Stillwell’s research focuses on creating sustainable water and energy systems in a policy-relevant context. Some of her current projects include examining performance of green storm water infrastructure, as well as the connections between water and electricity generation. Additionally, she is currently working on water, energy, and carbon policy and modeling.

Dr. Stillwell’s research work on the energy-water nexus has resulted in several awards, including the National Science Foundation CAREER award and the UCOWR Early Career Award for Applied Research. Additionally, she was honored with the 2015 Girl Scouts of Central Illinois Woman of Distinction Award in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, the 2018 Rose Award for Teaching Excellence, and the 2018 AEESP Award for Outstanding Teaching in Environmental Engineering and Science. Dr. Stillwell has also been among the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students at Illinois. Previously, she served as Chair of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Central Illinois and Faith in Place.

E-mail us at awiscommunications@gmail.com if you’re interested in nominating someone to be on the podcast!