College of Engineering Welcomes Keisha and Keith Walters

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Keisha Walters & Keith Walters

Drs. Keisha and Keith Walters will join the faculty and staff of the College of Engineering effective in August 2021.

Keisha Walters began her role as head of the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering on Aug. 16, 2021, and will hold the Kevin W. and Marie L. Brown Department Head Chair in Chemical Engineering. As head of chemical engineering, she will lead a department of 16 faculty members, six full-time staff members and over 230 students.

Keisha Walters will be joining us from the University of Oklahoma, where she held the Conoco-Dupont Professor of Chemical Engineering. Before this position, she was on the faculty at Mississippi State. Keisha Walters completed her B.S. in biological sciences and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering at Clemson University.

Keisha Walters' research focuses on fundamental polymer research including the synthesis, modification and characterization of materials for applications in diverse areas, including the energy/water nexus, drug delivery, sensor development and advanced separations. Her outstanding research has led to numerous patents, publications and presentations, as well as a Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award. In addition to her exceptional research, Keisha Walters is also active in the enhancement of education at all levels, including numerous publications, outreach activities, participation in the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Education, and is a recipient of the Raymond W. Fahien Award from ASEE.

 "Keisha's well-rounded excellence in her research, teaching and outreach provide a strong foundation to lead the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering to the next level," Interim Department Head Christa Hestekin said.

Keith Walters will also be joining the College of Engineering as a professor and will hold the 21st Century Professorship in Mechanical Engineering. Keith Walters completed his Bachelor's, Masters and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering at Clemson University.

During his academic career, Keith Walters taught many courses like heat transfer, fluid mechanics and numerical methods. He is a well-known expert in computational fluid dynamics, having published over 130 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers, received numerous external funding from various federal and industrial sources, and graduated 20 MSME and Ph.D. students.

 "We in mechanical engineering are pleased to welcome Dr. Keith Walters to the department," said Darin Nutter, Mechanical Engineering Department head. "He not only adds strength to our thermal-fluids group, but Keith also brings nearly 20 years of professorial experience."

"The College of Engineering is thrilled to welcome Drs. Keisha and Keith Walters," said Kim Needy, dean of engineering. "The College of Engineering is full of talented researchers and educators, devoted staff and diligent students. I am confident that Keisha will be a great leader for the chemical engineering department, and Keith will be an asset to the mechanical engineering team."