In Remembrance: Trevecca Mourns Loss of Dr. Stephen Silliman

Dr. Stephen E. Silliman (also known to his students as Super Sillyman) passed away at the age of 68 this week following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Silliman served most recently as the dean of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at Trevecca. He had previously served as the dean of engineering at Gonzaga University, and was a professor emeritus of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at the University of Notre Dame.

Born in Chicago, Silliman graduated from Lake Forest High School and received a degree in civil engineering from Princeton University. He enjoyed music and played trumpet in jazz bands in high school and at Princeton. He also enjoyed experiencing God’s creation through mountain hikes and bicycle touring. In later years, nature photography became a favorite hobby. Spending time with his three sons was also a top priority. He enjoyed helping to coach their youth soccer leagues and traveling with them whenever possible.  His Christian faith was central to his family and work life.

After earning a master’s degree through the University of Arizona’s Department of Hydrology and Water Resources in 1981, Steve worked as a hydrologist for the U. S. Geological Survey in Reston, Va., for a year before returning to Arizona to continue his graduate studies. Steve met his wife, Julie (Engelhart) Silliman—a graduate of Notre Dame’s class of 1978—while both were graduate students at the University of Arizona, and they enjoyed more than 40 years together.

After earning his doctorate in 1986, Silliman began his professional career as an assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at Notre Dame. During his time there, Steve engaged in foundational research projects related to the study of groundwater contaminant transport and published dozens of professional papers related to this work.

Heavily involved in international development projects, Silliman took dozens of Notre Dame students to Haiti in the 1990s to help drill and repair water wells and train local teams of well drillers. He began working with colleagues in Sub-Saharan Africa in 1998, where he continued to facilitate the drilling of water wells in villages in Benin, West Africa, and also worked with students to help protect existing water wells from contamination. Silliman also taught and collaborated with researchers at the University d’Abomey-Calavi in Benin and at universities in other African countries including Uganda and Ghana. He was perhaps most proud of the development of international experiences that allowed students and faculty to work together on complex, interdisciplinary water resource development projects pursued in research teams with their overseas counterparts. He was especially gratified by the many students that reached out to him over the years to share how formative these international experiences were in their lives. Silliman taught a number of short courses to university students in Benin and served on advisory committees for several international Ph.D. students as well.

In 1998, Steve received a Fulbright Award to collaborate with colleagues on water contaminant transport issues at the Weitzman Institute in Rehovot, Israel. He also served in administrative roles at Notre Dame as the associate chair of his department and as associate dean for undergraduate programs in the College of Engineering.

In 2011, Steve became the National Groundwater Research and Educational Foundation (NGWA) Darcy Lecturer.  He traveled to more 60 locations throughout the world sharing about his research efforts in West Africa.

Dedicated to teaching and mentoring his students, Silliman received several teaching awards, including the Notre Dame College of Engineering’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1992 and 2003; the American Society of Engineering Educators’ Outstanding Teaching Award (Illinois-Indiana Section) in 2006; and the Global Engineering and Technology Educator Award in 2006.  He also received several service awards from the University of Notre Dame, including the Grenville Clark Award for peace and human rights in 2002, the Rev. Toohey Award for social justice in 2004 and the Rodney F. Ganey Faculty Community-Based Research Award in 2007.

Silliman also contributed to several professional associations. At various times, he was associate editor of the Journal of Hydrology, Ground Water and Water Resources Research and the Journal of Hydrogeology.

After 26 years working as a research scientist, teacher and administrator, Silliman retired from the University of Notre Dame in 2012.  The same year, he was named the dean of the College of Engineering at Gonzaga University.  In 2018, he received a Jefferson Fellowship to work with U. S Agency for International Development Global Development Lab in Washington, D.C.  Following that sabbatical year, he returned to Gonzaga as a professor of engineering and a senior university fellow for international development.

In 2021, Silliman moved into the role of dean of the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) at Trevecca while continuing his research related to international development. He helped Trevecca continue to grow in the STEM-related disciplines, including helping to launch a four-year nursing program, until complications from pancreatic cancer forced him to step down in 2024. Silliman was honored that a scholarship fund was established in his name at Trevecca to help enable future students at Trevecca train for careers in STEM.

Stephen Silliman is survived by his wife, Julie; his three children, Carl, Scott and Timothy; his brother and sister, William Silliman and Nancy Shaw, and their spouses, children and grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church in South Bend, Ind. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Stephen Silliman STEM Scholarship Fund at Trevecca or to the Global Water Center.