GREENVILLE, Pa.—Internationally recognized water researcher Shane Snyder, Ph.D. ’94 will deliver the commencement address and receive an Honorary Doctor of Science degree during Thiel College’s 2026 Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9.
The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the William A. Passavant Memorial Center.
Snyder is the Jose Domingo Perez Foundation Chair and Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. A globally respected leader in water science and environmental engineering, Snyder is the 2021 recipient of the Clarke Prize, one of the most prestigious honors recognizing outstanding achievements in water science and technology.
Snyder will be presented by retiring Professor of Chemistry Guru Rattan Kaur Khalsa, Ph.D. Khalsa is retiring after 46 years at Thiel College and will be recognized as Emerita Professor of Chemistry.
His research focuses on water quality, treatment technologies and environmental health. Snyder has authored more than 300 scholarly publications, which have generated more than 41,000 citations. His work has led to recognition as one of the top 25 water researchers in the world by Lux Research and the 55th-ranked scientist in environmental engineering by Stanford University.
Snyder also serves as editor-in-chief of the American Chemical Society journal Environmental Science & Technology Water and previously served as editor-in-chief of Elsevier’s journal Chemosphere. He is a Fellow of the International Water Association and a board-certified environmental scientist by eminence through the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. Throughout his career, Snyder has advised numerous organizations on water sustainability and safety, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization.
A 1994 graduate of Thiel College, Snyder earned a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry with a minor in biomedical technology. He later completed his doctorate in zoology and environmental toxicology at Michigan State University.
In 2000, Snyder joined the Southern Nevada Water Authority as research and development project manager, where he led a multidisciplinary team of engineers, chemists and postdoctoral researchers conducting environmental engineering and public health studies. In 2010, he joined the University of Arizona as a professor and research center director. Snyder also held faculty and leadership appointments at the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University for more than 13 years before joining Georgia Tech.
This will be Snyder’s second trip to campus in the past year. He returned in October to speak during Thiel’s Common Hour program, sharing insights from his career and research with students, faculty and staff.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.