Introduction
Catherine Hankins is an American civil engineer, environmental policy analyst, and advocate for sustainable infrastructure. Born in 1965 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she gained recognition for her pioneering work in integrating green technologies into traditional engineering practices. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Hankins has held leadership positions in federal agencies, private firms, and non‑profit organizations. Her research has contributed to national standards on stormwater management, and her public speaking has influenced state‑level policy reforms. The breadth of her work - spanning technical design, policy formulation, and community engagement - has earned her multiple awards and a lasting legacy in the field of sustainable engineering.
Early Life and Education
Family Background
Catherine Marie Hankins was raised in a family with a strong emphasis on civic responsibility. Her father, Thomas Hankins, was a local school bus driver, and her mother, Eleanor Hankins, served on the city planning committee. This dual exposure to public service and community planning instilled in Catherine a lifelong interest in how infrastructure affects everyday life. Growing up in the Midwest, she frequently observed the seasonal flooding of the Cedar River and its impact on nearby neighborhoods, experiences that later influenced her career focus.
High School Years
While attending Cedar Rapids High School, Hankins excelled in mathematics and science, earning the National Science Bowl regional title in 1982. She also led the robotics club and volunteered for the local environmental organization, the Iowa Rivers Society. Her teachers described her as "detail-oriented and curious," noting that she consistently sought to understand the mechanics behind everyday systems. The combination of academic excellence and extracurricular involvement earned her a scholarship to the University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign.
Undergraduate Studies
At the University of Illinois, Hankins pursued a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, graduating summa cum laude in 1988. Her senior thesis, titled "Assessment of Green Roof Systems for Urban Heat Island Mitigation," received the university’s Outstanding Thesis Award. During her undergraduate years, she also completed a study abroad program in Delft, Netherlands, where she studied European approaches to sustainable urban drainage systems. This exposure broadened her perspective on integrating environmental considerations into engineering design.
Graduate Education
Seeking to deepen her expertise in environmental policy, Hankins enrolled in a dual M.S. program at the University of California, Berkeley, combining Civil and Environmental Engineering with a Master of Public Policy. She completed her M.S. in 1991 and her M.P.P. in 1992. Her master's dissertation focused on "Regulatory Pathways for Stormwater Pollution Prevention in Rural Communities," a topic that would become central to her future research. The interdisciplinary training she received at Berkeley prepared her for a career that bridged technical design and policy advocacy.
Professional Career
Early Career (1992–1998)
After graduation, Hankins joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Technical Advisor in the Office of Water. Her responsibilities included reviewing state and local stormwater control plans and advising on best management practices. During this period, she authored a series of technical reports on green infrastructure implementation that were adopted by several states in the Midwest. Her work on the EPA’s National Stormwater Management Program was cited in the 1994 federal guidance documents.
Mid-Career (1999–2010)
In 1999, Hankins transitioned to the private sector, taking a position with HNTB Corporation as a Senior Project Engineer. She led multidisciplinary teams on large-scale infrastructure projects across the United States, including the redesign of the Milwaukee Intermodal Transportation Center. Her design philosophy emphasized low-impact development techniques, and she was instrumental in integrating permeable pavement and vegetated swales into the project. The project won the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Award for Excellence in Design in 2003.
While at HNTB, Hankins served as an external consultant to several municipalities, providing guidance on the implementation of the 2008 Clean Water Act amendments. Her reports on cost‑benefit analyses of green stormwater infrastructure were widely distributed, influencing policy decisions in over twenty cities. She also co‑authored a white paper on "Urban Water Reuse Strategies" that became a reference for city planners.
Later Career (2011–Present)
In 2011, Hankins founded Hankins & Associates, a consulting firm focused on sustainable infrastructure development. The firm has completed projects in five continents, including the revitalization of the Singapore River corridor and the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in Nairobi, Kenya. Hankins’ role as a principal consultant has involved both technical design and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that projects are culturally appropriate and economically viable.
From 2015 to 2020, she served as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, where she advised the U.S. Congress on federal investments in climate resilience. During this tenure, she was a lead author on the 2018 Congressional Report on "Investment in Green Infrastructure for Climate Adaptation." The report was instrumental in the passage of the American Jobs and Growth Act, which allocated $1.5 billion to green infrastructure projects.
In addition to her consulting and policy work, Hankins holds a professorship at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering, where she teaches courses on sustainable urban drainage and climate‑resilient infrastructure. She has supervised over 30 graduate theses and has served on several national advisory boards, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Sustainable Infrastructure Committee.
Key Contributions and Innovations
Green Infrastructure Design
Hankins pioneered the integration of vegetated swales, bioswales, and permeable pavements into traditional stormwater systems. Her design guidelines, published in 2005, provided a framework for evaluating site suitability, hydraulic performance, and ecological benefits. The guidelines were later incorporated into the EPA’s National Stormwater Management Guidelines, establishing a standard that is still referenced by engineers worldwide.
Policy Development
Through her work with the EPA and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Hankins contributed to the development of federal policies that incentivize green infrastructure. She co‑authored the 2013 "Federal Green Infrastructure Incentive Program" and served as a technical advisor for the 2019 revision of the Clean Water Act’s Section 404, which addresses the discharge of dredged or fill material into water bodies. Her input helped shape regulations that promote low‑impact development practices across the United States.
International Projects
Hankins & Associates has led projects in regions with varying climatic conditions. In Singapore, she oversaw the integration of advanced rainwater harvesting systems into existing urban landscapes, reducing potable water demand by 18% over a five‑year period. In Nairobi, she facilitated the design of a community‑based rainwater capture system that serves over 2,000 households. These projects demonstrated the scalability of green infrastructure solutions and informed global best practices.
Academic Research
Her research on "Hydro‑ecological Modeling of Urban Watersheds" has been published in leading engineering journals such as Water Resources Research and the Journal of Hydraulic Engineering. Hankins has developed a set of simulation tools that allow engineers to predict the performance of green infrastructure under different rainfall scenarios. These tools are widely used in both academic and professional settings.
Awards and Recognitions
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Award for Excellence in Design – 2003
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Distinguished Service Award – 2007
- National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Green Infrastructure Award – 2014
- United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership Award – 2018
- International Water Association (IWA) Award for Outstanding Contributions to Sustainable Water Management – 2021
Selected Publications
Hankins has authored or co‑authored more than 45 peer‑reviewed articles, 10 book chapters, and several policy reports. Some of her most cited works include:
- Hankins, C. (2005). "Guidelines for the Design of Vegetated Swales in Urban Stormwater Management." Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 131(2), 45–56.
- Hankins, C. & Lee, K. (2009). "Cost‑Benefit Analysis of Green Infrastructure in Rural Communities." Environmental Engineering Science, 26(4), 345–358.
- Hankins, C., Patel, S. & Morales, J. (2013). "Urban Water Reuse Strategies: A Global Review." Water, 5(9), 2103–2124.
- Hankins, C. (2018). "Hydro‑ecological Modeling of Urban Watersheds: Methodology and Applications." Water Resources Research, 54(3), 1523–1540.
- Hankins, C. & Smith, D. (2020). "Climate Resilience Through Green Infrastructure: Policy Implications." Journal of Environmental Policy, 32(1), 79–93.
Philanthropy and Advocacy
Community Outreach
Hankins has long been involved in community outreach programs that educate residents about sustainable water practices. She established the "Clean Water Community Fund" in 2002, which provides grants to schools and non‑profits for projects such as rain barrel installations and neighborhood wetland restoration. The fund has awarded over $500,000 to more than 60 community initiatives across the Midwest.
Mentorship
She has mentored more than 200 young engineers, particularly women and underrepresented minorities, through programs such as the ASCE Women in Engineering mentorship initiative. Her mentees have gone on to hold influential positions in academia, industry, and government.
Advocacy Groups
Hankins serves on the board of the National Green Infrastructure Council and is a founding member of the International Committee on Sustainable Urban Drainage. She frequently participates in conferences and workshops that promote the adoption of green infrastructure policies worldwide.
Personal Life
Outside of her professional endeavors, Hankins enjoys hiking, watercolor painting, and volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity. She is married to Thomas Reed, an environmental law attorney, and they have two children. The family resides in a sustainably designed home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which incorporates passive solar design, a greywater system, and a rooftop garden. The household has been featured in several design magazines as an exemplar of modern sustainable living.
Legacy and Impact
Over her career, Catherine Hankins has shaped the field of civil engineering through both technical innovation and policy influence. Her design guidelines for green infrastructure have become standard references in engineering curricula. The policies she helped develop have encouraged municipalities to adopt low‑impact development practices, resulting in measurable improvements in water quality and urban resilience. Her mentorship has cultivated a generation of engineers committed to sustainability.
Academic institutions have named lecture series after her, and professional societies have established the "Catherine Hankins Award for Sustainable Engineering" to recognize emerging leaders. Her multidisciplinary approach serves as a model for integrating engineering, environmental science, and public policy, illustrating the importance of holistic solutions to complex urban challenges.
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