Ann-Perry Witmer came to engineering in midlife when she enrolled in the University of Illinois’ College of Engineering after a successful career in newspapering. After graduating with honors and becoming the first civil engineering major to win the prestigious Harvey Jordan Award from the College of Engineering, she became a practicing professional engineer in Wisconsin, designing water systems for communities throughout the Midwest. She also served as chair of the American Water Works Association’s state section and continues to play a leadership role in the international AWWA organization. Ann holds Professional Engineer licenses in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota, and is a LEED Accredited Professional.
While working in consulting, Ann helped to create organizations that work directly with communities in Central America and the Caribbean to provide engineering assistance for disadvantaged communities in need of safe, sustainable drinking water, which led her to her current role at the University of Illinois. In addition to teaching freshman engineering electives, Ann develops and teaches courses in international engineering design and acts as faculty advisor to Engineers Without Borders-UIUC. Her service travels have taken her to Central America, Africa, Asia and South America, where she’s developed a deep understanding of the relationship between technical and social considerations that must be co-evaluated for communities in need.
In addition to her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Illinois, Ann also holds degrees in journalism and art history magna cum laude from Boston University. She is currently completing a PhD in agricultural and biological engineering that investigates the relationship between technical design and non-engineering considerations like politics, culture and economics.
Research Topics
- Impact of globalization project on engineering approaches for alternately developed societies
- Relevant non-engineering influences that affect outcome of technical infrastructure designs for international client communities
- Relationship between technical design/implementation/operation and non-technical variability of societal constitution
Publications
- Witmer, A. “Women In Engineers Without Borders.” Women And Ideas In Engineering: Twelves Stories From Illinois. Laura Hahn and Angie Wolters. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2018. Print.
- Witmer, A. (2017, October), Considering Context In Engineering Design presented at 2017 Engineers Without Borders-USA National Conference, Milwaukee, WI.
- Witmer, A., & Jahnke, K. (2016, June), Drawing Upon Non-Engineering Disciplines to Research Sustainability of Engineered Infrastructure in South America Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.26868
- Jahnke, K., & Witmer, A., & Tan, M., & Witmer, G. F. (2016, June), Bringing a Cross-Disciplinary, Contextual Approach to International Service Engineering Learning Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.26395
- Witmer, A. (2015, April) Letting Go For Success in International Service presented at TEDxUIUC Conference, Urbana, IL.
Education
- PhD in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in progress
- M.S. in Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2016
- B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, highest honors, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2002
- B.S. in Journalism, magna cum laude, Boston University, 1982
- B.A. in Art History, magna cum laude, Boston University, 1982
Awards
- Illinois International Graduate Achievement Award, 2017
- J. Frederick Miller Award for distinguished volunteer service, University YMCA, 2017
- Leon Smith Award for outstanding service, Wisconsin Water Association, 2008
- Harvey Jordan Award, University of Illinois College of Engineering, 2002
- Public Service Award, Isaac Walton League of America, Illinois Division, 1990
- Keystone Press Award, Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association, 1984
Affiliations
- Illinois Water Scholar, Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment
- Faculty, Center for African Studies
- Faculty, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
- Faculty, Center for Global Studies