Courtney Pfluger

Courtney Pfluger is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University, specializing in engineering education with focuses on technology-enhanced pedagogy, globalization in the classroom, and sustainable energy/clean water technologies. She holds a B.S. (2004) and Ph.D. (2011) in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern, with prior industry experience in biotechnology and protein purification.

Her research emphasizes innovative teaching methods, international educational programs (e.g., Brazil Dialogue of Civilization programs on sustainable energy), and integrating sustainability into curricula. She has received numerous awards for teaching excellence, including the Northeastern Global Educator Award, COE Essigmann Teaching Award, and AIChE Outstanding Student Chapter Advisor Award.

Her publications span pedagogical innovations, global education strategies, and sustainable engineering solutions, with recent work focusing on entrepreneurship education, holistic systems approaches, and virtual international programs. She has advised over 8 faculty-led programs and contributed to curriculum redesign in capstone and cornerstone courses.

Notable grants and recognitions include the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (via student Dominic Pizzarella) and leadership roles in the AIChE student chapter, which earned an Outstanding Student Chapter Award.