Zenaida Otero Gephardt epitomizes professional excellence in engineering, civic duty, and environmental stewardship. As professor, Dr. Gephardt has dedicated her career to developing and nurturing well-rounded engineers and future leaders adept at addressing global challenges. She is committed to the cultivation, dissemination, and application of knowledge for the enhancement of society. A licensed professional engineer (DE), Dr. Gephardt employs engineering and analytics methodologies to improve quality of life.
Dr. Gephardt began her career as a research engineer at DuPont, where she honed the applied technical expertise that she brought to academia at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). Following the transformative $100 million gift to the institution, she became Director of Engineering and Founding Associate Dean of the Rowan School (now College) of Engineering. In this capacity, she co-authored the chemical engineering curriculum, oversaw the development of all engineering programs, and played a key role in the design and specifications of the engineering building. Dr. Gephardt was instrumental in the selection of the engineering dean and department chairs, the integration of general education requirements in the engineering curriculum, and the establishment of innovative engineering clinics. The latter two remain hallmarks of Rowan Engineering.
Recognizing the value of academic-industry collaborations, Dr. Gephardt has led projects that range from mitigating fats, oils, and greases (FOG) in municipal wastewater to nutrient extraction from algae for salmon farming. She championed applied technology initiatives and international exposure for students, with projects aimed at enhancing global quality of life. Notably, Dr. Gephardt developed and led the first Rowan international engineering clinic, where students collaborated with La Universidad Cátolica del Norte and aquaculture farmers in Coquimbo, Chile to optimize aquaculture operations. Additionally, she co-directed an Engineers without Borders student team in El Salvador, earning the Best Paper Award from the American Society for Engineering Education International Division for their work.
In her role as Vice-President for Accreditation of the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions, Dr. Gephardt pioneered accreditation initiatives and facilitated workshops with the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) and regional accrediting bodies, enhancing institutional standards across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Leveraging her experience at the Du Pont Engineering Technology Laboratory, Dr. Gephardt integrated hands-on pedagogies and green engineering principles into Rowan’s curriculum, promoting team-based and project-based learning. She has taught courses in experimental design and data analysis, fluid mechanics, process dynamics and control, and graduate elective courses in advanced engineering analytics, green engineering, particle technology and mixing operations. She also championed the use of learning style data to optimize student outcomes and helped to develop programs to attract middle and high school students to engineering, including the Rowan Attracting Women to Engineering Summer Program.
Dr. Gephardt’s work and commitment to excellence contributed significantly to the high rankings of Rowan’s engineering departments. As professor of chemical engineering and college administrator, she has tirelessly instilled technical proficiency, ethical integrity, and a global perspective in her students. Her collaborations with corporate partners have further solidified the college’s reputation as a valuable resource for regional and national business development.
Dr. Gephardt continues her technical work as a consultant and her community involvement. She is lead author of a paper on the synergy between technology and society in the October 2024 issue of Chemical Engineering Progress. As Chair of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Societal Impact Operating Council and co-Chair of the AIChE Foundation Board of Trustees Grants Committee, she augments and highlights the vital contributions engineers make to society. Dr. Gephardt currently represents AIChE on the Affiliates Council of the Science History Institute. Her community service, including her work as Board President of Girls Inc. of Delaware, underscores her commitment to empowering underprivileged youth through STEM education and life skills development programs. Her work was recognized with a Girls Inc. of Delaware scholarship in her name and the Advancement of Women Award from the YWCA of Delaware. Dr. Gephardt currently serves on the Board of Directors of the DEXSTA Credit Union.
Dr. Gephardt’s extensive service within the AIChE Delaware Valley Section has enriched the professional community for over two decades, encompassing various leadership roles including Section Chair and Chair of the Academic Awards Committee. She continues to serve on the AIChE Delaware Valley Section Board of Directors and the Academic Awards Committee. Her work has served to inspire others and strengthen the engineering profession.
Her many accolades include teaching and mentoring awards at Rowan University, election to Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 2014, an Eminent Engineer Award from the AIChE Minority Affairs Committee in 2019, and recognition as 2024 Delaware Valley Chemical Engineer of the Year.
Dr. Gephardt exemplifies technical and professional excellence driven by compassion and commitment to community engagement. Her achievements and inspiring leadership make her a distinguished role model for future engineers and an exemplary candidate for Delaware Valley Engineer of the Year.