From Jordan to Lyle, Building Bridges That Last

Growing up amidst the bustle of engineering offices and construction sites, watching real work take shape before his eyes, Hussam Khresat’s path to engineering was far more than a passion – it felt more like something calling him home.

“My family inspired me to go into engineering,” Khresat explained. “My mother is an engineer; my father is an engineer – I really loved what they did. I love the math and physics behind it, the critical thinking; I’ve always looked up to them as engineers and problem-solvers.”

Raised in Jordan and Oman by two highly successful engineers, Khresat grew up surrounded by buildings, blueprints, and a deep respect for the work that shapes the world.

“My dad is such a hardworking person – he quit his job to start his own engineering company and now, he has one of the leading construction companies in Oman,” Khresat shared. “As a kid, I had the privilege of going with him to the office, going with him to the construction sites, seeing how the engineers worked, and I just knew I wanted to do that, too.”

Khresat followed his fascination for engineering to SMU Lyle, a tight-knit engineering school tucked thousands of miles from home. From the moment he arrived, he felt something within him shift.

As an undergraduate in civil engineering, Khresat learned to translate his long-held analytical curiosity and creative passion into something more meaningful. With Lyle, he sought opportunities to immerse himself in hands-on projects with tangible impact – the kind of work he’d watched his parents do in his youth.

His initiative led him to Dr. Brett Story – a structural engineer and Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Lyle – who became both a research mentor and a lifelong personal and professional connection, guiding his academic journey forward. Noticing Khresat’s potential, Dr. Story enlisted his help in a research project that would one day catalyze his career.

“I worked under the supervision of Dr. Story in his Smart Infrastructure Lab,” Khresat described. “My research is mainly on monitoring rail bridges or bridge inspections – everything related to bridge safety.”

In his final year of undergrad, Khresat began a years-long project in monitoring bridge systems and analyzing vibration data. He loved the experience of hands-on research so much that he remained at Lyle for his master’s degree – and eventually, his doctorate – under Dr. Story’s direction.

Supported by the Federal Railroad Administration, Khresat spent his graduate years developing a machine-learning system capable of detecting vehicle-bridge collisions with an incredible 99% rate of accuracy. Trained through synthetic strike simulations in the lab, the tool – his breakthrough moment – accelerates the process of damage detection, assessment, and repair, helping to prevent unnecessary road closures. Khresat’s work has earned recognition at multiple levels, including an award at Lyle Research Day, nationally at AREMA conference, and most recently, at the Artificial Intelligence in Structural Engineering (ARTISTE) conference in Turin, Italy.

With his accomplishments came the opportunity to present his research before the Department of Transportation – what he describes as a true “pinch-me moment,” and one Khresat attributes wholeheartedly to the dedication and direction of his research mentor and the opportunities presented to him at Lyle, which recognized and nurtured his fullest potential.

“Presenting for the Department of Transportation, seeing what they liked and what they didn’t, where the industry and the DOT is focusing,” Khresat explained, “you don’t get that kind of input unless you are working under a mentor like Dr. Story – one that’s very dedicated, very committed to their work.”

The experiences shared at SMU Lyle, bolstered by Dr. Story’s unwavering support – from letters of recommendation for scholarship and visa applications to professional introductions that catalyzed his career – opened the door for Khresat to land his dream job as a structural engineer with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE), just months after graduating with his doctorate.

Working under the guidance of one of the nation’s leading forensic engineering companies, Khresat is translating more than six years of high-level research in safe and smart infrastructure into real-world impact, monitoring at-risk structures and addressing vulnerabilities in safety and integrity. This feat would not have been possible without the support of SMU Lyle.

“So much of my success – where I am now and where I will be in the future – is because of what I learned in my ten years at Lyle,” Khresat emphasized. “I was surrounded by very hardworking people. Success is just in our culture here, and that’s a sign that you’re in the right place, working with the right people.”

“Lyle faculty – Dr. Story, Dr. Makris, Dr. Al-Shami, Dr. Abdelghany and many others – these are top-class researchers whose names are known all over the world in their fields; all truly amazing and supportive people I connected with in my journey. It really was a privilege to learn from them,” Khresat elaborated.

For Khresat, Lyle taught more than calculations – it provided up to date skills which offered real industry advantage, and a network of mentors and role models whose contributions will serve as lifelong catalysts in his professional success.

“Civil engineers aren’t just people who make AUTOCAD files,” Khresat explained. “Now, a civil engineer is someone who codes, who programs, who builds neural networks – skills I learned here, working in high-level projects.”

For Khresat, Lyle wasn’t just the place where he became an engineer; it was where he found the confidence to carry his childhood dreams forward. He takes great pride in following in his family’s footsteps – and those of his mentors – who will forever serve as pillars for his personal and professional success.

“I wasn’t here for ten years by accident,” Khresat emphasized. “I wouldn’t stay in one place for that long if I didn’t see a future for myself there, and that future is what Lyle gave me.”

“It was a very nice ten years with Lyle.”

About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering 

SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, SMU Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees. 

About SMU 

SMU is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.