Purifying the future
How one CMU grad is taking clean water global
May 26, 2026
Keenan Norton will investigate cutting-edge drinking water treatment technologies.
Several recent Carnegie Mellon University alumni have been named 2026-27 Fulbright Award recipients. Keenan Norton is among these honored few.
Norton graduated in May with a degree in chemical engineering and additional majors in environmental and sustainability studies and Hispanic studies. During his time at CMU, he held roles as an supplemental instruction leader, a peer tutor, and an ambassador for the Department of Chemical Engineering.
A consistent focus of his work and research has been water quality and access across the Americas. While earning his degree, Norton co-led a student organization focused on civic engagement trips in the Dominican Republic and spent time studying abroad in Costa Rica.
His Fulbright grant will allow him to continue his research and engagement in Latin America, this time taking him to Ecuador.
I am so excited to be a Fulbright Scholar, as it really brings together all of the things I have been working on over the past few years.
Keenan Norton, Class of 2026, Carnegie Mellon University
“I was drawn to apply for a Fulbright to Ecuador to continue to build skills in research related to water quality, now looking at the particular challenges experienced by communities affected by industrial mining,” he said.
The experience, he hopes, will allow him to explore new, innovative approaches to improving water quality.
“My research Fulbright will serve to investigate cutting-edge drinking water treatment technologies that can hopefully improve resilience for communities whose water may be more difficult to treat,” Norton said. “I am so excited to be a Fulbright Scholar, as it really brings together all of the things I have been working on over the past few years.”
The U.S. Fulbright Student Program aims to facilitate international research and teaching opportunities worldwide. Awards, funded by the the U.S. Department of State, are offered to a limited number of grantees following a rigorous selection process.
For media inquiries, please contact Lisa Kulick, lkulick@andrew.cmu.edu.