MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Penn State Harrisburg recently announced the appointment of Shirley Clark as director of the School of Science, Engineering, and Technology (SSET), effective May 1.
Clark, who joined Penn State Harrisburg in 2003, has served as the acting director of SSET since July 1, 2023. In 2026, she was named a distinguished professor of environmental engineering.
“I am pleased to announce Dr. Clark’s appointment as director of the School of Science, Engineering, and Technology,” said Chancellor David Callejo Pérez. “Shirley’s dedication to student success, as well as her leadership in advancing innovative learning and research opportunities have been instrumental to the school’s growth and impact. As science and technology continue to evolve, I am confident that Dr. Clark will help position Penn State Harrisburg as a leader in driving innovation and preparing students to meet the needs within the region and beyond.”
Her research focus is on stormwater management, urban water quality and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Currently, her research focuses on the challenge that society faces as urban growth and decaying infrastructure intersect with climate change and vulnerable communities. Since 2017, her research group has been addressing rainfall-induced flooding in urban areas, especially as a result of high-intensity, short-duration storms and historical land development techniques.
Clark has been active in multiple professional societies and on various advisory committees. She is past president of the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) Environment and Water Resources Institute (EWRI), as well as the Central Pennsylvania Section of ASCE. Currently, she serves on both the ASCE Committee on Workforce and Education and the American Society for Engineering Education’s Committee on Workforce Development. She is one of the Pennsylvania gubernatorial appointments to the Chesapeake Bay Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee. She is a member of the ASCE-NOAA Task Force and the Collaboration Innovation Team, which is charged with forward-scanning the profession.
Clark, recently named an ASCE fellow, is an active mentor for students and is faculty adviser to the college's ASCE Sustainable Solutions Team. Her awards include the 2021 EWRI Service to the Institute Award; the 2021 Urban Water Resources Research Council Outstanding Service Award; the 2025 Women in Tech Moxie Award from the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania; the 2015 Penn State Harrisburg Excellence in Advising Award; the 2016 Kathryn Townsend Award; and the 2016 Penn State Harrisburg Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity Award.