Former Philadelphia Water Department Commissioner Appointed Penn Arts and Science’ First Professor of Practice

Howard Neukrug, CE’78, former commissioner and CEO of the Philadelphia Water Department, has been appointed Penn Arts and Sciences’ first Professor of Practice. Practice professorships bring accomplished leaders from business, government, or the arts into Penn Arts and Sciences’ classrooms, to complement the expertise of the School’s standing faculty.

“Professors of Practice represent a new kind of faculty presence at the School,” says Steven J. Fluharty, Dean of Penn Arts and Sciences. “They are individuals who have a record of substantial accomplishment in their fields and who are working to enrich our academic endeavors with their professional expertise.”

At the Philadelphia Water Department, Neukrug was responsible for all aspects of a drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater system serving 2.3 million people. He established Philadelphia's $2.5 billion "Green City, Clean Waters" program, which revolutionized how cities approach land and water management for sustainability and resiliency.

Neukrug is also the chair of the External Advisory Council for the Urban Water Innovation Network of the National Science Foundation, and an advisor to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Drinking Water Advisory Council. He was the founding chair of the Global Water Leaders Group, where he now serves as a senior advisor. His many honors and awards include the U.S. Water Alliance Founders Award for Leadership and the National Environmental Achievement Distinguished Service Award.

Neukrug’s appointment is in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science, where he is also establishing a Center for Water Science, Technology and Policy and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. Additionally, he serves as a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy.

“Howard’s practical experience, gained during a long and successful career at the Philadelphia Water Department and in various national organizations, is invaluable to our department,” says Reto Gieré, Chair of the Earth and Environmental Science Department. “His expertise and leadership are instrumental in Penn’s effort to build bridges between theory and practice. This allows him to motivate our students to search for innovative, real-world solutions to problems around all aspects of water, probably the most precious resource on our planet. We are thrilled to count Howard among our faculty.”

Neukrug graduated from Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science with a bachelor’s of science degree in civil and urban engineering. He is a board-certified Professional Engineer and Environmental Engineer.