environmental engineering Faculty

• Dr. André J. Butler, E.I.T.
• Dr. Laura Lackey, P.E.
• Dr. Philip T. McCreanor, E.I.T.
• Dr. Richard O. Mines, Jr., P.E.

Professors in the Environmental specialization (EVE) are some of the best in the School of Engineering.  The EVE faculty is active in conducting both educational and technical research.  They publish and present their research at regional and national conferences.  In addition to being scholars in their own areas of expertise, they have all received awards for being effective instructors.  EVE faculty members know their students and develop close relationships that last a lifetime.  All EVE faculty members are tenured and can devote their complete energies to being the best professors possible.  Recent publications and presentations by the EVE professors may be viewed on each professor’s website.

Dr. Richard Mines is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).  He holds a BS from Virginia Military Institute (VMI), an ME from the University of Virginia, and a PhD from Virginia Tech. He has previous teaching experience from the University of South Florida (8 years) and VMI (3 years).  He also worked in consulting as a process engineer for Black & Veatch (2.5 years) and CH2M Hill (3.5 years).  Dr. Mines is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in three states, and is a 2001 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) National Effective Teaching Institute Fellow.  While at the University of South Florida, Dr. Mines was the recipient of the 1995 and 1998 Professor of the Year Award in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department.  He also won the university-wide Teaching Improvement Plan Award for his dedication and commitment to engineering education from 1995 to 1998 while at USF.  Please visit his website for additional information.

Dr. Laura Lackey is an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering and a two-time winner of the Outstanding Teacher of the Year in the School of Engineering Award (2002 and 2007).  She has managed several bioremediation projects while working for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) over a span of six years.  Dr. Lackey is a registered professional engineer (PE) in the state of Alabama, and holds a BS, MS, and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.  Dr. Lackey is a Past President of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Southeastern Section, 2004-2005.  She provides leadership in our two-semester Senior Design Course required of all engineering students.  Please visit her website for further information.

Dr. Philip McCreanor is an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering and the 2007 Innovations in Teaching Award Recipient; a university-wide teaching award recognizing his teaching effectiveness and commitment to high quality undergraduate education.  He was the School of Engineering’s 2005 Outstanding Teacher of the Year.  Dr. McCreanor holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Miami, and an MS and PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Central Florida.  He is actively involved in conducting research on moisture and pressure sensors used in sanitary landfills.  Dr. McCreanor provides leadership in our freshman design course that is required of all engineering students.  Please visit his website for further information.

Dr. André Butler is an Associate Professor of Environmental and Mechanical Engineering and the 2003 Outstanding Teacher of the Year in the School of Engineering.  He worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air, Pesticides and Toxic Management Division in Atlanta, Georgia before joining the Mercer faculty in Spring 2000.  He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana, an ME in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Georgia Tech.  Dr. Butler is on the advisory board of the Mercer University Upward Bound Program.  Please visit his website for additional information.