6/2/2026
The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has named David C. Crawford Faculty Scholar and Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Jeremy S. Guest the new head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has named David C. Crawford Faculty Scholar and Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Jeremy S. Guest the new head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, effective May 16, 2026.
“Jeremy is an internationally recognized scholar, a thoughtful and collaborative leader, and someone deeply committed to the future of engineering education and research.”
Rashid Bashir, Dean, The Grainger College of Engineering
Guest’s research and leadership have focused on advancing sustainable infrastructure systems, resource recovery, environmental biotechnology, and data-driven approaches to guide technology development. He succeeds Donald Biggar Willett Chair of Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Ana Barros, who served as department head since 2021.
As department head, Guest will lead one of the nation’s premier civil and environmental engineering departments during a period of rapid technological and societal change affecting infrastructure, environmental systems, energy, water, and transportation.
“Jeremy is an internationally recognized scholar, a thoughtful and collaborative leader, and someone deeply committed to the future of engineering education and research,” said Rashid Bashir, dean of The Grainger College of Engineering. “He brings a clear vision for how civil and environmental engineering can build on its foundational strengths while embracing emerging technologies and interdisciplinary collaboration to address society’s most pressing challenges.”
Guest joined the Illinois faculty in 2011. His research group develops computational approaches to advance sustainable environmental technologies, with an emphasis on resource recovery, wastewater and sanitation systems, and biomanufacturing to advance the circular economy. His work integrates process engineering, biotechnology, computation, and data science to guide the development of emerging technologies to improve environmental quality, infrastructure resilience, and public health outcomes.
“CEE at Illinois has extraordinary strengths across both foundational engineering disciplines and emerging computational and data-driven approaches. I’m eager to work with our community to build on that foundation and position the department for continued leadership in education, research, and societal impact."
Jeremy S. Guest, Head and Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Prior to becoming department head, Guest has held several leadership roles within the department and broader university research community, including serving as the inaugural director of the Levenick Center for a Climate-Smart Circular Bioeconomy, an interdisciplinary center focused on accelerating innovation and the deployment of integrated plant-to-product systems in Illinois and across the Midwest.
Guest expressed his excitement around collaborating with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and continuing to develop partnerships with industry and government leaders to strengthen the department’s impact.
“Civil and environmental engineers play a central role in shaping the systems that allow society to thrive — from water, housing, transportation, and energy infrastructure to environmental protection, public health, and emerging technologies,” Guest said. “CEE at Illinois has extraordinary strengths across both foundational engineering disciplines and emerging computational and data-driven approaches. I’m eager to work with our community to build on that foundation and position the department for continued leadership in education, research, and societal impact.”
Guest also highlighted the importance of preparing students for a rapidly evolving engineering landscape while preserving the rigor and breadth that define the discipline.
“Our responsibility is not only to advance discovery, but also to educate engineers who can think deeply and work across disciplines to build a future in which people can live healthier, safer, and more prosperous lives.”
Jeremy S. Guest, Head and Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
“Our responsibility is not only to advance discovery, but also to educate engineers who can think deeply and work across disciplines to build a future in which people can live healthier, safer, and more prosperous lives,” he explained. “Illinois is uniquely positioned to lead in that effort.”
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Illinois is consistently ranked among the top programs in the nation. Recognized globally for excellence in education and research, CEE at Illinois is creating the next generation of leaders that are solving tomorrow’s challenges today; building innovative infrastructure that protects the environment, developing autonomous, multimodal transport, creating sustainable solutions for energy production, providing communities with safe, reliable water supplies, and designing resilient infrastructure and systems for a changing world.