Harrisburg’s Shirley Clark named distinguished professor

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Shirley Clark, a faculty member in Penn State Harrisburg's School of Science, Engineering, and Technology, has been named a distinguished professor of environmental engineering by Penn State's Office of Faculty Affairs. She is one of 14 faculty University-wide to be named distinguished professors for 2026.

The distinguished professor title recognizes outstanding academic contribution to the University. This special academic title is bestowed upon a limited number of professors who are leaders in their fields of research or creative activity and who have demonstrated significant accomplishments with respect to teaching, research or creative activity, and service. 

Clark is interim director of the School of Science, Engineering, and Technology. Her research focus is on stormwater management, urban water quality and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Currently, her research focuses on the challenge that society faces as urban growth and decaying infrastructure intersect with climate change and vulnerable communities. Since 2017, her research group has been addressing rainfall-induced flooding in urban areas, especially as a result of high-intensity, short-duration storms and historical land development techniques. Clark coordinates multidisciplinary teams to address the engineering and human health impacts of these storms and their aftermath. Her expertise is sought by federal and state agencies and scientific advisory committees.

She served as president of the American Society of Civil Engineering's (ASCE) Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) in 2024, representing over 22,000 engineers, and was recently named an ASCE Fellow. She is a member of the ASCE-NOAA Task Force and has co-organized and participated in multiple panel discussions around the needs for federal data in infrastructure design, operation and maintenance. She has keynoted regional, national and international conferences.

Clark is an active mentor for students and is faculty adviser to the college's ASCE Sustainable Solutions Team.

Her awards include the 2021 EWRI Service to the Institute Award; the 2021 Urban Water Resources Research Council Outstanding Service Award; the 2025 Women in Tech Moxie Award from the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania; the 2015 Penn State Harrisburg Excellence in Advising Award; the 2016 Kathryn Townsend Award; and the 2016 Penn State Harrisburg Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity Award.

Clark joined Penn State Harrisburg in 2003.