Fresh from his doctorate, Dr. Shahram Sarkani joined GW Engineering four decades ago and has since had a transformative impact on the school and the fields of systems engineering and risk analysis. To honor his contributions and ensure continued excellence in engineering education and research at GW, Sarkani has been appointed as the L. Stanley Crane Professor of Engineering.
L. Stanley Crane, B.S. ‘38, was a leading railroad executive who, after 43 years at the Southern Railway, transformed Consolidated Rail Corporation from a failing government entity into a profitable private company through the largest U.S. public stock offering of the time. In Crane’s honor, the company endowed the professorship with $1M in 1989 to elevate research, teaching, and scholarship at GW Engineering.
Over the years, Sarkani has authored over 500 publications, advised or co-advised over 150 doctoral students, and led research funded by various government agencies, focusing on systems engineering and risk analysis with applications to civil infrastructure reliability. To give students practical experience in this area, he founded the Laboratory for Infrastructure Safety and Reliability, which houses experimental facilities, including a six-degrees-of-freedom shake table for structural testing.
Building on this foundation of innovation and mirroring Crane’s own legacy of transformation, Sarkani has also helped GW Engineering expand its program offerings and build its reputation as a world-class engineering school in the heart of the world’s most influential city.
When Sarkani joined in 1986, many current academic departments had not yet formed, while others were combined. He began his first of many leadership roles as chair of the combined Department of Civil, Mechanical, and Environmental Engineering from 1994 to 1997, immediately working to enhance the student experience through process improvements and mentorship.
In 2001, Sarkani became director of the newly formed Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering’s (EMSE) Online and Off-Campus Programs, building partnerships with leading D.C. companies to grow off-campus graduate education. He further expanded the school’s online offerings when he became director of GW Engineering Online Programs in 2016.
“The programs that Dr. Sarkani has developed for GW Engineering are not only highly ranked and thriving, but they have also provided access to world-class educational programs for students and professionals across the U.S. The GW Engineering brand and alumni network have both been greatly enhanced by the success of these programs,” said Jason Zara, GW Engineering Interim Dean and professor of biomedical engineering.
Under his strategic leadership, GW Engineering Online has grown to over 1,500 graduate students across master’s and doctoral programs. Sarkani and co-director Thomas Mazzuchi aimed to secure a Top 10 spot in the U.S. News & World Report rankings within a decade. By 2025, they achieved this milestone, and the program now ranks #5 overall and #6 for veterans, reflecting Sarkani’s emphasis on student experience, continuous improvement, and academic quality.
Ekundayo Shittu, EMSE professor and department chair, emphasized Sarkani’s collective impact on GW Engineering in his nomination letter: “Over his nearly four decades at GW, Dr. Sarkani has contributed to the highest levels of scholarship, leadership, and institutional advancement. His accomplishments reflect not only individual distinction but also transformative impact on GW Engineering and the GW community.”
As he continues advancing research in systems engineering and risk analysis, Sarkani will further inspire and mentor students through GW Engineering Online–exemplifying the vision and enduring legacy of the Crane Professorship.
“I am honored to be appointed as the Crane Chair and thankful to those who have allowed me to realize my vision for teaching, research, and service at GW Engineering. I am especially proud to have spearheaded the Online Engineering effort to reach student populations who would never have had the chances we provided and would probably not have considered GW Engineering as an option,” said Sarkani.