Carmen Agouridis is the Senior Associate Dean for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and an Extension Professor of Ecosystem Protection and Restoration in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) at the University of Kentucky.
Dr. Agouridis’s research focuses on applying scientific methods to address current issues in natural resource management, particularly the restoration of water systems impacted by agricultural, urban, or mining activities. Her work explores ways to improve instream water quality through novel stream restoration techniques, stormwater management using low-impact development methods such as rain gardens and stormwater wetlands, and evaluating the effects of the forestry reclamation approach on the hydrology and water quality of mined lands.
She is a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Earth Resources. Previously, she served as the director of the Stream and Watershed Graduate Certificate, co-director of the Environmental Engineering Undergraduate Certificate, and co-director of the Greenhouse Environment and Sustainability Residential College.
Dr. Agouridis has played a key role as a principal or co-principal investigator on research projects totaling over $9.4 million in grants. She has authored nearly 50 refereed publications and over 30 extension publications and has advised more than 30 undergraduate and graduate research projects. In recognition of her contributions to education, she received the American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers’ 2014 A.W. Farrall Young Educator Award.
She is also a certified professional engineer in Kentucky. Dr. Agouridis holds a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering and an M.S. in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from the University of Tennessee. Additionally, she earned Master’s degrees in Public Policy and Business Administration, as well as a Ph.D. in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from the University of Kentucky.