Engineering and... News: April 2026

Dear Engineering Colleagues, 

April is always a special month on our campus, with the cherry blossoms in bloom, the weather warming up, and our students, faculty, and staff approaching the finish line of yet another successful semester. 

This month, GW launched the Revolutionary Promise, an undergraduate affordability initiative. Starting in fall 2026, new, first-time domestic undergraduate students from families making less than $100,000 will receive full tuition. I am thrilled that GW has taken this step to prioritize affordability, access, and student success, and I am confident this will help further our mission of preparing our students to become the next generation of engineers and computer scientists. You can read more about the Promise and recent community news below. 

With commencement and other end-of-year celebrations rapidly approaching, I also encourage you all to stay up to date on community news and events on our website. I look forward to celebrating with you all in the coming weeks, and wish you all luck and energy as we work together to close out the year! 

Raise High 

Jason Zara

Interim Dean, GW Engineering

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.

May 1 from 5pm to 7pm: Festival of Animation – Spring 2026

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May 7 to May 9: AI + EXPO 2026

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May 14 from 2pm to 3pm: GW Engineering Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

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May 15 from 12pm to 1:15pm: Intro to Lean Innovation Webinar

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May 15 from 7pm to 9pm: GW Engineering Graduation Celebration

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May 17 from 10:30am to 12pm: GW Commencement

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May 31 to June 5: National Security and Naval Power Bootcamp 2026

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Study Offers Potential New Biomarker for Monitoring Early-Stage Parkinson’s Disease

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Engineering and… Community Service: How Senior Isabella Perusse Blends Service with Her Major

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From Building Websites to Securing Them: How Ozzy Simpson Found His Path

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Professors Huang and Dehghanian Present Data Center Green Solutions at ASF Event

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 Engineering a Safer Digital Future

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How I Got the Internship: Navigating Campus Events and Resources as a First-Year

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In the article "New Method Detects Clusters of Viruses in Wastewater," GW Today details a new study led by Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Yun Shen on detecting and isolating small fluid-filled sacs called vesicles that carry viruses in wastewater. The study, published in Nature Water, revealed that many human noroviruses are cloaked by vesicles in wastewater, advancing understanding of how these pathogens persist in the environment and impact public health.

Behind every smooth operation at GW Engineering is a dedicated finance team ensuring that resources are efficiently sourced and delivered. Sydney Smith is a member of this team, leveraging her institutional knowledge and sourcing expertise to ensure every department and unit has what it needs to succeed.

Q: How long have you been working at GW, and what is your position?
A: I currently serve as the Senior Financial Analyst for GW Engineering, and have been here for one year. I previously worked within the College of Professional Studies as an Accountant and later as a Financial Analyst. My collective GW tenure adds up to just over 2.5 years.

 

Q: What led you to this career?
A: I was always a curious kid, so I liked digging into mysteries and perpetually asking my parents and family, “Why?” When I got started in my first financial role, I asked so many questions and fell into quite a few rabbit holes, where I just kept digging until I came up with an answer that made sense to me. Over the years, I’ve found that financial analysis is a bit like detective work–all the pieces of the clues fit together and help you see the bigger picture.

On April 7th and 8th, GW celebrated Giving Day 2026, and the GW Engineering community came together to champion the school and help write its next chapter. GW Engineering stood out as one of the most engaged communities across the university, with more than 160 donors giving a total of $182,871 to support the school's future. 

Across the Science & Engineering Hall on April 24, 112 innovative projects were exhibited at GW Engineering’s 2026 Research & Development and Senior Design Showcase. The first floor featured 73 research posters, while on the B1 level, 39 undergraduate teams presented their capstone projects addressing real-world challenges.

The GWU-PREP is a collaboration with GWU in Washington, DC and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. GWU-PREP provides research opportunities at NIST to students, faculty, research staff, and postdoctoral researchers at GW as well as researchers at SURA-affiliated universities.

We support your ambitions by offering financial support to eligible GW community members, including a monthly stipend, hourly wage, or full tuition reimbursement for qualifying undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff.