In Memoriam: Dion Dionysiou, PhD
Throughout his career, Dionysiou served on numerous research, educational and outreach committees, and held many leadership roles. As a testament to his contribution at the international level, he was elected academician of the European Academy of Sciences and a fellow of four other professional societies (International Water Association, American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, and Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors).
He organized numerous conferences, including symposia, to highlight the pioneering work of women in environmental engineering and science. Dionysiou received more than 50 awards, including the ARCADIS Frontier in Research Award, the Outstanding Publication Award from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, and the Sustainable Water Award from the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Dionysiou’s childhood inspired his work in water quality. He grew up in Cyprus, where water scarcity was an ongoing issue. After earning his BS degree in chemical engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, Greece, and his master's in chemical engineering at Tufts University, Dionysiou came to UC for his doctoral studies in environmental engineering in the field of water treatment using sustainable technologies.
Makram Suidan, UC professor emeritus, was Dionysiou’s mentor while he was a doctoral student. Recognizing Dionysiou’s commitment and intellectual leadership to his research, Suidan knew the impact Dionysiou could make in the environmental engineering program and thus advocated for the college to hire him as a faculty member.
“Dion was highly respected among his peers and left an indelible mark at UC. He will always be remembered as a gentle person who loved his extended family of graduate students,” Suidan said. “He will be deeply missed by those of us who were fortunate enough to get to know him and call him a colleague and a friend.”
Dionysiou is survived by his wife of 32 years, Paula; daughters, Marianna and Stella; and his parents.
Visitation is 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 7000 Winton Road, Cincinnati. Read the full obituary.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Professor Dion Dionysiou Memorial Fund (8002746) at the UC Foundation website.
Latest UC News
- Graduate school personal statements: Examples and tips for successLooking for a strong personal statement example? Explore tips and examples tailored for graduate school applications to help you craft a compelling personal statement and stand out.
- UC research studies new technique to visualize CAR T-cells in bodyA $2.3 million National Cancer Institute grant will fund a University of Cincinnati Cancer Center study to develop a new technique to visualize where genetically modified immune cells go in the body after being administered to patients with cancer.
- Corryville plots out responsible growth plans at the 1819 Learning LabThe Corryville Community Development Corporation joined experts at UC’s 1819 Learning Lab to map out strategies for responsible future growth in the neighborhood.
- Rising childcare prices could harm the economyChildcare costs have spiked in recent years, forcing parents to make tough decisions that could negatively affect the economy, Fox19 reported. David Brasington, PhD, the James C. and Caroline Kautz Chair in Political Economy and economics professor in the University of Cincinnati's Carl H. Lindner College of Business, has experienced this firsthand.
- Lab2Market Symposium helps UC grad students turn projects into productsGraduate students at the University of Cincinnati learned how to transform research into marketable products during the Lab2Market Symposium at the 1819 Innovation Hub.
- What is tuition remission?Learn how UC's tuition remission program supports employees and their families, covering tuition costs for undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs to help you advance your career.
