Siriwardane named interim chair of civil and environmental engineering

 Hema Siriwardane

Hema Siriwardane, professor of civil and environmental engineering at West Virginia University, has been named interim chair of the department, effective August 16. He replaces Radhey Sharma, who was recently named associate vice president for Global Strategy and International Affairs at WVU.

“Dr. Siriwardane has been a valued faculty member in the Statler College for many years and he has provided a variety of services to the department,” said Gene Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. “He has managed his research program very well and has been recognized for his teaching and research contributions. This experience will help him in this administrative role.”

“I am honored to have been selected to be the interim chairman by Dean Cilento,” said Siriwardane. “I look forward to working with students, staff, faculty, College administration, alumni and all other constituents that make our community.”

Siriwardane has conducted extensive research in geotechnical engineering and geomechanics. He has experience in both computer modeling and laboratory research work and has served in a number of national and international committees dealing with geomechanics. He has published extensively in prestigious national and international journals and is the co-author of a book in his area of expertise. He has served as principal/co-principal investigator for various projects funded by such agencies as the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, the West Virginia Division of Highways and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. Siriwardane has supported and advised numerous graduate students at WVU and he has won many awards for his teaching, research and service.

According to Cilento, a national search for a permanent replacement will begin during the fall semester.

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