Akinci installed as the Strecker Dean of the College of Engineering

by Scottie Barsotti

On the eve of Spring Carnival, Burcu Akinci was installed as the second Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Dean of the College of Engineering.

On the eve of Spring Carnival, Burcu Akinci was installed as the Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Dean of the College of Engineering. Family and friends, faculty and staff, university leadership, students, alumni, and distinguished guests all gathered to celebrate the formal installation of Dean Akinci on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Akinci is the 16th dean in the college’s history, and the second to hold the Strecker chair.

Akinci thanked the Streckers for their enduring commitment to the College of Engineering and CMU and promised to uphold their legacy during her tenure as dean.

“I am honored to take on this role, and I look forward to what we will build together—not only what is possible, but what truly matters for generations to come,” said Akinci.

Akinci began her service as dean on January 1, 2026. A member of the CMU community for more than 25 years, Akinci previously served as head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and was named a University Professor in 2023, the highest designation for faculty at Carnegie Mellon. She also served as associate dean for research, driving institutional-level growth by helping to establish the moonshot initiative to cultivate large-scale research centers, developing the college's strategic research direction, and increasing the value of new research awards.

A woman in a pink suit shakes hand with a man in a blue suit — Dean Burcu Akinci shakes hands with CMU Provost Jim Garrett.

A woman holding a tradition Scottish drinking vessel between two men — Dean Burcu Akinci, center, with CMU Provost Jim Garrett [left] and CMU President Farnam Jahanian [right], receiving a ceremonial Scottish Quaich.

A woman in a multicolor, button-up shirt and glasses at a podium — Fernanda Leite speaks during the installation ceremony. Leite is one of Akinci’s former students, now a professor and interim VP of Research at UT Austin.

A young woman giving a speech at a podium — Sinem Akinci, daughter of Dean Burcu Akinci, speaks during the installation ceremony.

A man with his arm raised as he speaks at a podium — Dean Martial Hebert of the School of Computer Science delivers remarks about Burcu Akinci.

Two women embracing — Dean Burcu Akinci and Nancy Strecker embrace onstage.

A woman clapping and smiling while standing at a podium — Nancy Strecker delivers remarks at the installation ceremony.

A row of people, including a woman and her daughter, all of whom are smiling and clapping — Dean Burcu Akinci reacts to Nancy Strecker’s speech.

Two women embracing after the ceremony — Dean Akinci’s installation was an emotional moment for many in the crowd.

A family of five with arms wrapped around each other. The family includes mother, father, two sons, and one daughter. — Burcu Akinci and her family onstage at the installation ceremony. The Akincis have been part of the CMU community for over 25 years.

Akinci is a member of the National Academy of Construction, distinguished member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She received her bachelor's degree from Middle East Technical University; her MBA from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey; and her master's and doctoral degrees from Stanford University.

In her remarks, Akinci recalled her earliest experiences walking onto construction sites with her father, who was also an engineer, and marveling at the dynamism and complexity of those projects. What began as intrigue soon became inspiration as she got to know more about the people involved in these projects and saw how they were transforming the world around them to benefit people and communities.

“Engineering is where imagination becomes reality and responsibility becomes action,” said Akinci. “It is a discipline where curiosity meets consequence, and what we design and build can shape how people live for centuries.”

Engineering is where imagination becomes reality and responsibility becomes action.
Burcu Akinci, Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Dean, College of Engineering

The ceremony was hosted by CMU Provost and Chief Academic Officer James H. Garrett Jr., himself a former dean and three-time alumnus of the College of Engineering. In his remarks, he called Akinci a consistent intellectual force for the college.

“Burcu has shaped the rhythms of our research and the stories of our students, and we couldn’t ask for a better leader to take the stage today,” said Garrett. He also thanked the search committee for their efforts in selecting Akinci for the dean’s chair.

CMU President Farnam Jahanian spoke about the significance of Akinci’s appointment, as well as the transformational impact of the Streckers and their commitment to the university.

A group of five people stand for a posed photo — **Source:** Carnegie Mellon University

L to R: Provost Jim Garrett, Nancy Strecker, Bill Strecker, Dean Burcu Akinci, and President Farnam Jahanian at the installation ceremony.

“Carnegie Mellon University and the College of Engineering do not have two better friends than Bill and Nancy Strecker,” said Jahanian. “It’s remarkable to reflect on the incredible long-term impact these two dedicated philanthropic leaders have had on our Carnegie Mellon community, and we remain grateful for the support of the Strecker family.”

Nancy Strecker gave an ebullient speech on behalf of herself and her husband, congratulating Akinci and conveying their excitement for her and for the future of the College of Engineering.

“This is a dream come true for both of us; I’m still pinching myself,” said Strecker. “With Burcu in our chair leading one of the elite engineering schools in the country, we think the opportunities are boundless.”

With Burcu in our chair leading one of the elite engineering schools in the country, we think the opportunities are boundless.
Nancy W. Strecker, Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Dean, College of Engineering

Other speakers at the ceremony included Fernanda Leite (CEE 2009), one of Akinci’s former students who is now the interim vice president for research and professor at University of Texas at Austin; Sinem Akinci, daughter of Dean Akinci and product manager at Microsoft; and Martial Hebert, dean of Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science and one of Akinci’s closest collaborators during her career at CMU. These speakers all represented distinct chapters of Akinci’s life, sharing poignant stories and anecdotes.

Akinci thanked her role models—including her parents, uncle, and mentors. She also expressed heartfelt gratitude for her husband and three children, who were in attendance.

“I am deeply grateful to my family,” said Akinci. “They have not only supported my work but truly celebrated my commitment to making meaningful impact in the world.”

The Dean’s Chair of the College of Engineering is endowed by a transformational $15 million gift to Carnegie Mellon University by Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker.

Bill Strecker is a three-time alumnus of CMU's electrical engineering program, earning bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in 1966, 1967, and 1971. He also received an honorary doctorate from CMU in 2024. Nancy Strecker is an alumna of Harvard University. The couple met during their extensive and influential careers with Digital Equipment Corporation, where they both retired as top executives of the company.

The Strecker Dean’s Chair provides critical funding to support the dean’s strategic priorities, advancing the College of Engineering’s educational and research initiatives across departments, institutes, and programs, including CMU locations in Silicon Valley and Kigali, Rwanda.

In 2013, the Streckers established the Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Early Career Professorship in electrical and computer engineering to support talented junior faculty members as they develop into leaders with world-class engineering expertise.