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Dean C. Marjorie Aelion

Dean Aelion obtained her SMCE in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts and her PhD from UNC's Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering.  She was a Fulbright awardee to the Université de Bretagne Occidentale in France, and the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands.  She received the National Science Foundation Presidential Faculty Fellow Award in 1993, one of 30 awarded in all science and engineering disciplines.  Dean Aelion serves on the Editorial Board of Bioremediation Journal, Oceans and Oceanography, and is Managing Editor for Biodegradation.  She is the author of over 70 peer-reviewed scientific articles and one edited book.

Her research is in the area of biodegradation of organic contaminants, tools for assessing remedial technologies, including stable isotopes and naturally-occurring radiocarbon, and the application and development of enhanced remediation systems for contaminated ground water.  She has additional interests in the impact of land use on coastal contaminant removal and nutrient cycling, and the associations of metals in residential soils with negative health outcomes in children.

Her nomination for the ESE Distinguished Alumni Award was led by ESE Professor Fred Pfaender who praised her in his letter, "Dr. Aelion has been a respected scientist working in the area of bioremediation for most of her career after leaving Carolina.  She has recently been named Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Mass.  This is significant recognition of her achievements as a scientist, professor and academic administrator.  We are extremely proud of her accomplishments and contributions to the field of Environmental Sciences."  

Dean Aelion was the featured guest of the Department on Friday, April 17, 2009.  During her visit, Dean Aelion presented a seminar entitled "What Happens When You Get an Epidemiologist, an Environmental Health Scientist and a Biostatistician in a Room?  A Study of the Associations of Soil Metals with Mental Retardation and Developmental Delay in Children" and was the guest speaker at Learning & Libations (L & L) held at the Carolina Brewery.