Faculty Researchers
Faculty in the Villanova Center for Resilient Water Systems are sought-after and renowned experts in their fields. Subscribing to the teacher-scholar model, they bring their considerable research experience and opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students.
VCRWS Director Robert Traver
Leading this distinguished group is Dr. Robert Traver, PE, D. WRE, F.EWRI, F.ASCE, a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering who joined Villanova University in 1988.
In addition to initiating the Stormwater Control Measure Demonstration Park on the Villanova campus and serving as principal investigator on dozens of research projects, Dr. Traver has established himself as a leader in the field of water resources. Among his contributions:
- Leadership of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Task Committee on Flood Safety Policies and Practices, including editing the Committee’s report, “Flood Risk Management: Call for a National Strategy.” For his efforts, he was recognized with the ASCE 2014 William H. Wisley American Civil Engineer Award.
- Serving as a past president of the American Academy of Water Resource Engineers
- Contributing as a member of the National Research Council Committee that authored “Urban Stormwater Management in the United States” in 2009
- Participating on the ASCE’s External Review Panel of the Corps investigation of Hurricane Katrina, for which he was awarded the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal in 2007, the third highest honor the Department of the Army can award a civilian
- Serving as an associate editor of the Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment, which he helped to create
In recognition of his many achievements, Dr. Traver was honored with the 2019 Environmental and Water Resources Institute Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2016 Villanova University Outstanding Faculty Research Award.