Rachel Brennan

Rachel Brennan, Ph.D., P.E. joined the department as a Professor and Department Head on July 15, 2025. She comes to CSU from The Pennsylvania State University, where she served as a faculty member for over 20 years and as Interim Associate Department Head from 2023 to 2025.

Brennan is a licensed Professional Engineer and has been active in international consulting and educational programs across Australia, China, and South America with the support of the Fulbright program from the U.S. State Department. She was honored to receive a one-year executive leadership fellowship from Drexel University designed to advance academic leaders in STEM into effective institutional leadership roles.

Her current multi-million-dollar research program bridges natural and engineered systems to purify water from complex waste streams and produce a range of value-added products to support a circular bioeconomy, including sustainable fertilizers, fuels, and food. She is also proud to champion several international transdisciplinary projects which focus on the complexities of protecting natural resources and human rights from the deleterious impacts of resource extraction. Although unique in their specific aims and objectives, all of her projects are united by the motivation to rigorously understand and address infrastructure challenges for the betterment of humanity and the environment.

An advocate for linking teaching activities closely with research initiatives and global service opportunities, Brennan has taught 11 different courses, directed a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, and has led several federally funded, international research initiatives for both undergraduate and graduate students. She has served as a faculty advisor for several student organizations, including Engineers Without Borders and Engineers for a Sustainable World. She has won multiple awards for teaching excellence, and her students have been recognized with over 80 awards collectively for presentations and scholarship.