Dr. Shahab Afshari’s Scholarship for Excellence in Engineering Education
The City University of New York Remote Sensing Earth System (CUNY CREST) Institute is elated to announce the Shahab Afshari’s Scholarship for Excellence in Engineering Education, a scholarship established in memory of Dr. Shahab Afshari who tragically passed away in 2023. Dr. Afshari, a distinguished graduate of the Civil Engineering Department, earned his doctoral degree in the field of Water Resources Engineering. He was an exceptional role model known for his unwavering dedication to his education, friends, family, and colleagues.
This scholarship has been established to recognize Dr. Afshari’s legacy and promote excellence in engineering education. Dr. Afshari’s commitment to work, integrity, and leadership served as an inspiration to many. CREST hopes that this scholarship will continue to inspire future generations of engineering students.
About Dr. Shahab Afshari
Dr. Shahab Afshari was born at 10:45 pm on March 21st, 1989, the first day of Persian New Year and Spring Equinox, in the city of Rasht, the capital of Guilan Province in the north of Iran and passed away at 10:45 pm on July 1st, 2023, in Hartford, CT. He accomplished his elementary, middle school and high school education in Rasht, his birthplace. Towards the end of his high school, Dr. Afshari was determined to pursue his higher education to the highest level with the goal of protecting the environment. Even though in North America water is abundant and, in some places, even free, Afsari would not waste water by opening the tap fully—an indication of his care for the environment, even in his final days of life.”
Dr. Afshari graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 2010 and with a Master’s degree in Offshore Structures, both from Gilan University in Rasht. He successfully completed his Master’s courses in the shortest time with “a high GPA.” In 2012, he joined the City University of New York to pursue a second Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering. Dr. Afshari’s excellent class participation and aptitude for learning caught the attention of his Hydraulics and Water Resources professor, who invited Dr. Afshari to work as his teaching assistant. By the end of his first semester, Dr. Afshari was given the opportunity to retake his TOEFL and GRE tests and apply for master’s to PhD bridge program in Hydraulics and Water Resources. Dr. Afshari’s dedication and efforts along with his parents’ support and encouragement resulted in his successful acceptance to Ph.D. . Shahab’s passion for learning motivated him to take additional courses, even at other academic institutions such as Hunter College of NYC, and do self studies to expand his knowledge in the field.
