Snapshots: Soheil Saraji

Soheil Saraji, Le Norman Endowed Leadership Chair

 

By Micaela Myers

 

David Le Norman earned his degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Wyoming in 1986 and went on to build an impressive international career, including a decade with Texaco and the founding of Reign Capital Holdings.

 

Through it all, Le Norman never forgot his alma mater, offering generous support to the university, including naming the Le Norman Endowed Leadership Chair of Petroleum Engineering. 

“My wife, Cory, and I are pleased with the result of the many people who worked on the project at UW,” Le Norman said in 2018. “We are especially proud of the state of Wyoming’s efforts to advance these programs with matching funds, supporting generations of future students focusing on the STEM-related fields of study. Our hopes are that the acknowledgment of these programs and this gift will stimulate future alumni investment across the board in many focus areas of study and research at UW.”

Soheil Saraji recently took over as the Le Norman Endowed Leadership Chair in Petroleum Engineering as well as head of UW’s Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering.

 

“I value our department for its distinct character,” he says. “We are a small boutique program compared to many of our peers, which allows for a level of personal engagement that is rare at larger institutions. I, along with many of my colleagues, know most of our students on a first-name basis, and that close connection fundamentally shapes the quality of education and mentorship we provide.”

That personalized approach offers big results.

“Our graduates are remarkably successful and consistently outperform expectations,” Saraji says. “Many hold senior leadership roles at major national and international companies. That outcome speaks directly to the strength of our program and the caliber of students we prepare.”

Saraji has been a rising star ever since graduating from UW with his Ph.D. in petroleum engineering in 2013. After his postdoctoral studies, he continued at UW as an assistant professor, then associate professor, and then department head.

 

Along the way, he’s made a huge impact, including launching the Center of Excellence in Subsurface Energy and Digital Innovation as well as the Multidisciplinary Advanced Stimulation Laboratory — both of which are combined initiatives between the School of Energy Resources and the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

Opportunities such as the Le Norman Endowed Leadership Chair allow Saraji to stay at UW while continuing to advance his career. The funding also enables him to have a greater impact. For example, he operates a large research group, including 18 graduate students, and the chair’s funding allowed him to hire a postdoctoral professional to assist. 

The funding also offers flexibility so that Saraji can travel to establish cooperative agreements with other universities, to recruit students and to engage with industry partners, all of which benefit UW as a whole. He can also fund undergraduate travel to conferences and hire area experts to teach specific courses within the college. 

In addition, named positions like the Le Norman Chair offer personal connections and prestige, which benefits both UW and the faculty holding those positions. 

“I look forward to benefiting from Mr. Le Norman’s perspective and guidance on the department’s long-term leadership and strategic direction,” Saraji says. “A named chair also carries meaningful prestige. It provides credibility and visibility that help open doors and strengthen conversations within the industry and institutional partners.”