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Professor JoAnn Silverstein has received a unique honor: a professorship named in her honor at the University of Michigan.

Silverstein, who is a full professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering is being recognized for her work as a female leader in environmental engineering.

She was one of the first women to earn a PhD in environmental engineering and the first female engineering professor to join the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.

"One of the most important themes of my academic career is to increase the participation, and position in leadership roles, of women and people of color underrepresented in engineering," Silverstein said. "I have been really fortunate to have had the opportunity to help achieve that as a department chair, program director and associate dean for faculty advancement – either as an example who may motivate other women to take on leadership roles or as an active promoter of diversity, equity and inclusion in hiring and development at ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ and outside the university.  I also think that the presence of more women in leadership roles is an overall benefit to the entire university."

at the University of Michigan will be held by Nancy G. Love, who requested it be named in Silverstein's honor.

"I am very honored by the recognition," Silverstein said. "The credit really belongs to Professor Nancy Love. Nancy and I have known each other for many years, through our mutual interest in biological wastewater treatment research, and for our participation in the environmental engineering academic and professional communities. We also share the distinction of being the first women who chaired engineering departments in our respective schools, Nancy at Michigan and me at ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ."

Silverstein has been a faculty member at ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ since 1982. She holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in civil engineering, all from the University of California, Davis, and a BA in Psychology from Stanford.