Montana Tech's Dr. Kumar Ganesan Named Fellow

Ganesan started at Montana Tech in 1983 as an assistant professor. In 1996, he began his role as Professor and Department Head. He oversees Montana Tech’s web-based Master’s in Project Engineering and Management degree program. He has received many awards and honors over the years. His latest in 2011 was the prestigious Lyman A. Ripperton Environmental Educator Award from the A&WMA.

“I am very humbled by the honor and very appreciative of the mentorship I received from my educators and many of my colleagues,” noted Dr. Kumar Ganesan. “I came from a humble family, grew up in a small village in India and my parents never went to school. This recognition clearly tells the story that no matter what your background is, given the opportunity, one can achieve their goals through the support of their mentors, colleagues, and family. I would like to thank Montana Technological University and the faculty members for their support for my growth in the profession.”

Dr. Ganesan was nominated for the A&WMA fellow by Merlyn Hough, Director, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency. Hough’s nomination letter stated, “I believe that Dr. Kumar Ganesan deserves this recognition more than anyone else I know, and I have had the privilege of working closely with many of the outstanding past and present leaders of the Association.”

A nominee for the Fellow grade of membership shall have been in a field related to the mission and objectives of the Air & Waste Management Association for a minimum of 15 years, and been a member (other than a student member) for at least 10 consecutive years. Election as a Fellow shall be in recognition of two categories: professional accomplishments and service to A&WMA. Dr. Ganesan will be officially recognized at the upcoming A&WMA annual conference in Quebec in June 2019.

Ganesan’s nomination letter noted that he has been involved in A&WMA-PNWIS primarily to equip and prepare the future leaders of the Association. Since teaching environmental engineering to over 800 graduate and undergraduate students over the past 30 years, he has equipped and prepared past, present and future leaders of A&WMA.

Ganesan served as the A&WMA-PNWIS President in 2004-2005, the A&WMA-PNWIS Annual Conference General Chair in 2001 and 2019, and the A&WMA-PNWIS Annual Conference Technical Co-Chair in 1999 and has mentored and supported young and seasoned professionals in leadership roles. He is listed in the 2018 Who’s Who of Environmental Engineering & Science.

Ganesan has been registered as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Environmental Engineering since 1998 and a Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. He received his PhD in Engineering Science/Air Pollution in 1981, his MS in Public Health Engineering in 1971, and his BE in Civil Engineering in 1969. Dr. Ganesan received a U.S. patent for a mercury control device for coal-fired plant flue gases in 2010. He has co-authored or edited at least eight books in the environmental field.