Faculty & Staff

Stephen has enjoyed a teaching and research career of more than 35 years, including significant periods of time at the University of Notre Dame and Gonzaga University prior to joining Trevecca. He is a civil engineer and hydrogeologist who has contributed to a number of studies focused both on the movement of water and contaminants in groundwater systems and on how best to work with students in pursuing their future careers. He thoroughly enjoys pursuing courses and field studies in truly interdisciplinary teams ranging from the technical sciences to the social sciences and education.

A significant part of Stephen's career has been focused on his international studies performed in collaboration with his students, his professional colleagues (and their students) in Haiti, Benin, and select locations in East Africa and local populations in both urban and rural settings.  This work has provided him with ongoing opportunities to seek reflection of God's creation in the people, nature and geology that he continues to encounter through his teaching and research efforts.

Select Representative Publications

Lindsay, K., J. Bradford, S. Silliman, N. Yalo, and M. Boukari, 2015, “Seismic imaging to help understand and manage water quality in coastal Benin, West Africa”, Geophysics, 80(3), 35-41. 

 

Rodak, C., S.E. Silliman, D. Bolster, 2014, “Time-Dependent Health Risk from Contaminated Groundwater Including Use of Reliability, Resilience, and Vulnerability as Measures, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 50(1), 14-28. 

 

McInnis, E., S. Silliman, M. Boukari, N. Yalo, S. Orou-Pete, C. Fertenbaugh, K. Sarre, and H. Fayomi, 2013, “Combined application of electrical resistivity and shallow groundwater sampling to assess salinity in a shallow coastal aquifer in Benin, West Africa”, Journal of Hydrology, 505, 335-345.

 

Meyers, K.L., M.W. Ohland, A.L. Pawley, S.E. Silliman and K.A. Smith, 2012, “Factors relating to engineering identity”, Global Journal of Engineering Education, 14(1), 119 - 131 

 

Meyers, K. et al., 2012, “How Self-Identification and Views of Engineering Change with Time A Study of Students and Professionals from a Single Institution”, Int. Jour. of Engineering Education, 28(1), 103-112. 

 

Rodak, C. and S. Silliman, 2011, “Probabilistic risk analysis and fault trees: Initial discussion of application to identification of risk at a wellhead”, Advances in Water Resources, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2011.02.005. 

 

Silliman, S.E., E. Fisker, and J. Pescatore, 2011, “Potential for establishing non-vertical flow within the vadose zone”, Vadose Zone Journal, 10, 425 - 436. 

 

Silliman, S.E., B.I. Borum, M. Boukari, N. Yalo, S. Orou-Pete, D. McInnis, C. Fertenbaugh and A. Mullen, 2010, “Issues of sustainability of coastal groundwater resources: Benin, West Africa”, Sustainability, 2(8), 2652-2675, doi: 10.3390/su2082652. 

 

Silliman, S.E., R.H. Mohtar, K.G. Paterson, and W.P. Ball, 2010, “Engineering academic program for hydrophilanthropy: Commonalities and challenges”, Journal of Contemporary  
Water Research and Education, University Council on Water Resources, 145, 5-29. 

 

Silliman, S.E., 2009, “Assessing experiences of international students in Haiti and Benin”, IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, 28(4), 16+. 

 

Silliman, S.E., C. Hamlin, P. Crane, and M. Boukari, “International Collaborations and Incorporating the Social Sciences in Research in Hydrology and Hydrologic Engineering”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 13(1), 13-19, 2008. 

 

Silliman, S.E., M. Boukari, P. Crane, F. Azonsi, and C.R. Neal, “Observations on Element Concentrations of Groundwater in Central Benin”, Journal of Hydrology, 335(3-4), 374-388, 2007 (dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.12.005). 

 

Dunn, A.M., S.E. Silliman, S. Dhamwichukorn, and C.F. Kulpa, “Demonstration of Microbial Transport into the Capillary Fringe via Advection from Below the Water Table”, Journal of Hydrology, 306(1-4), 50-58, 2005. 

 

Silliman, S.E., B. Berkowitz, J. Simunek, and M. th. van Genuchten, “Fluid Flow and Chemical Migration Within the Capillary Fringe”, Ground Water, 40(1), 76-84, 2002. 

 

Berkowitz, B., H. Scher, and S. Silliman, “Anomalous transport in laboratory-scale, heterogeneous porous media”, Water Resources Research, 36(1), 149-158, 2000. {Correction appeared 36(5), 1371, 2000.} 

 

Silliman, S.E., J. Ramirez, and R.L. McCabe, “Quantifying downflow through creek sediments using temperature time series: One dimensional solution incorporating measured surface temperature”, Jour. of Hyd., 167, 99-119, 1995. 

 

Silliman, S.E. and C.E. Neuzil, “Borehole determination of formation thermal conductivity using a thermal pulse from injected fluid”, Journal of Geophysical Research, 95 (86), 8697-8704, 1990

 

Neuzil, C.E., C. Cooley, S.E. Silliman, J.D. Bredehoeft and P.A. Hsieh, “A transient laboratory method for determining the hydraulic properties of ‘tight’ rocks -- II. Applications”, Int. Journal of Rock Mech. and Min. Sci. and Geomech., 18(3), 253-258, 1981.