Sheri D. Sheppard is an American mechanical engineer and academic known for her contributions to engineering education and the study of structural fatigue. She is the Richard W. Weiland Professor in the School of Engineering, Emerita, at Stanford University.
Sheppard received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1985. She joined the faculty at Stanford University in 1986, where she initially specialized in technical research concerning the fatigue and fracture mechanics of welded and riveted joints. Her work in this area has been applied to structural integrity and safety in the automotive and aerospace industries.
In addition to her technical research, Sheppard is a prominent figure in the field of engineering education research. She served as a Senior Scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, where she led a multi-year study on undergraduate engineering education in the United States. This research resulted in the 2008 co-authored book, Educating Engineers: Designing for the Future of the Field, which offered a comprehensive critique and framework for reforming how engineering is taught to better align with professional practice.
During her tenure at Stanford, Sheppard held several administrative roles, including Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Director of the Designing Education Lab. Her work has focused on understanding the professional identity of engineers and how to increase diversity and retention within the field.
Sheppard has received significant recognition for her pedagogical contributions. In 2014, she was named the U.S. Professor of the Year for doctoral and research universities by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).