Wayne Paulson

Wayne L. Paulson (1965 Ph.D.) was an instructor in civil and environmental engineering in the UI College of Engineering from 1960 until 1965 and a professor (with a primary focus in environmental engineering) from 1965 until 2000. Paulson, from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, along the Mississippi River, has always had an interest in natural systems, rivers, and lakes. He enjoys participating in sports, outdoor activities, photography, and outreach programs to help persons in need. Paulson attended the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse for two years and served in the United States Navy in the Mediterranean for two years. He received a B.S.C.E. degree from UW-Lacrosse in 1959, an M.S. degree in environmental engineering from University of Wisconsin in 1960, and a Ph.D. degree in environmental engineering in 1965 from University of Iowa. As a professor, Paulson taught Intro to Engineering, Thermodynamics, and many of the environmental engineering and science (EES) courses. His emphasis areas were in water quality, the processes for water, wastewater, and industrial and hazardous waste treatment. He interacted with about 1,500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students during his career. The EES graduate program grew from 10 students in 1960 to 30-40 students in the 1970s, and the EES faculty grew from two in 1960 to seven in the 1990s. Paulson received teaching awards from Chi Epsilon and the College of Engineering. He enjoyed encouraging students and helping to create a supportive family environment in the EES program among students and faculty. He frequently held social gatherings and receptions to recognize student achievements. Faculty also participated with students in sports and outdoor activities, and traveled together to conferences. Paulson believed in getting to know students in his courses. He was a champion of students and one of the college’s most distinguished mentors. He became fondly known as “WLP” among students, faculty, and friends. A former student of Paulson’s said, “WLP shared many gems of wisdom and perspectives with us in the field and classroom, and highlighted the ties between practice and academics.” Paulson brought environmental engineering practice into his courses to enhance students’ learning and was an advocate of learning in the field. He took students on field trips to water and wastewater treatment operations and hazardous waste remediation systems in Iowa and the upper Midwest. He also took students on side trips to natural sites, museums, and baseball games. In the 1980s and 1990s, he directed three one-day field trips for 50 students and faculty to civil and environmental engineering operations and systems in the metro areas of Chicago, St. Louis, the Twin Cities, and Kansas City. He enjoyed advising and counseling students in academics and job searches for summer and career employment, and he utilized his network of relationships with alumni and friends to help advance the success of his promising students. Paulson’s research focused on water quality and treatment processes. One major focus area was the development of fine pore aeration systems (FPA) for the activated sludge process including the evaluation of oxygen transfer. FPA systems have become extensively adopted as an energy efficient treatment process component. The goal of the Wayne L. Paulson Scholarship is to recognize, encourage, and support students pursuing a career in the environmental engineering profession who will become involved in environment programs in communities. Wayne and his wife, Nancy, moved to Stoughton, WI near Madison in 2001. They have three children and eight grandchildren living in Wisconsin and Minnesota. They remain active in their communities and enjoy biking, hiking, birding, fishing, photography, and travel. Wayne continues to play tennis and golf. They enjoy keeping in touch with alumni, faculty, and the University of Iowa.