Marcelo Garcia, Ph.D.
M.T. Geoffrey Yeh Endowed Chair of Civil Engineering and Director of the Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Marcelo H. Garcia (born April 22, 1959, Córdoba, Argentina) holds the M.T. Geoffrey Yeh Endowed Chair of Civil Engineering and serves as Director of the Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory. He joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1990. Prior to UIUC, was a Research Fellow (1988-89) at St. Anthony Falls Hydraulic Laboratory, University of Minnesota, where he completed his graduate studies (MSCE’85, PhD’89) in Civil Engineering. In 2001, he was named an Honorary Professor at his alma mater, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina, from where he obtained a Diploma in Water Resources Engineering. Recognized with a Doctorate Honoris Causa from National University of Cordoba, Argentina. Recipient of the 2026 Campus Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring and the Tau Beta Pi Daniel C. Drucker Eminent Faculty Award from the Grainger College of Engineering at UIUC. Member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Dr. Garcia was nominated for the Warren A. Hall Award by colleagues in recognition of his significant research contributions over the past three decades. Dr. Scott A. Socolofsky, J. Walter “Deak” Porter ’22 and James W. “Bud” Porter ’51 Chair, Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University described Dr. Garcia as “a world preeminent educator and researcher in sediment transport and hydraulics” who has “shaped these fields as a transformative leader in water resources engineering.” In his letter of support, Dr. Peter R. Wilcock, Professor Emeritus at Utah State University described Dr. Garcia as “a leader in hydraulics and sedimentation for almost four decades. His research contributions include early seminal contributions in suspension transport, turbidity current dynamics, flow and transport through vegetation, and river meandering.”
Beyond his remarkable research accomplishments, Dr. Garcia’s colleagues consistently praised his exceptional mentorship of the next generation of engineering students. Dr. Wilcock stated, “Professor Garcia’s contributions to education are voluminous and profound. His record of 61 MS and 40 PhD students advised speaks for itself, except to add that the list includes many of the prominent researchers and educators in water resources – in both science and engineering departments – in the US and in South America.” Dr. Charles S. Melching, visiting professor at Macau University of Science and Technology, noted that half of Dr. Garcia’s Ph.D. graduates currently hold tenure or tenured or tenure-track positions spread out over 10 countries, and several others currently hold post-docs or have moved on to other prestigious positions. His excellence in teaching and mentoring has also earned him multiple recognitions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Congratulations, Dr. Garcia, on this well-deserved honor!
