Thousands of petroleum engineers around the world share a common connection: At some point in their professional journey, Professor Mohan Kelkar shaped their future.
For more than four decades, Kelkar served The University of Tulsa as a teacher, researcher, mentor and leader whose influence extends far beyond campus. His former students now serve in leadership positions throughout the global energy industry, carrying forward the lessons, values and technical expertise he instilled in generations of engineers.
Today, alumni, friends and industry partners have an opportunity to ensure that Kelkar’s impact continues for generations to come through the establishment of the Dr. Mohan Kelkar Chair of the McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering.
Recently, faculty, alumni, industry leaders and friends gathered to celebrate Kelkar’s extraordinary career and launch a campaign to endow this prestigious faculty position in his honor. The goal is to establish a $5 million endowment that will permanently support excellence in petroleum engineering education, research and graduate mentorship.
Campaign Goal: $5 Million
Raised to Date: $1.5 Million
Remaining: $3.5 Million
Since joining The University of Tulsa in 1983, Kelkar, Ph.D., has become one of the world’s most respected educators and scholars in petroleum engineering. His expertise in reservoir characterization, reservoir optimization and production engineering has advanced the field through decades of pioneering research and innovation.
His scholarly accomplishments include more than 60 refereed publications, more than 250 technical presentations and three influential books, including “Applied Geostatistics for Reservoir Description,” a best-selling reference published by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Beyond his research achievements, Kelkar served as chair of the McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering from 2002 to 2016 and again from 2020 to 2025, helping guide one of the nation’s most respected petroleum engineering programs through periods of significant growth and change.
His influence has also extended throughout the profession. Kelkar has provided distinguished leadership within the Society of Petroleum Engineers, serving on its board of directors and receiving numerous international honors, including the organization’s prestigious Honorary Member Award in 2024.
Yet those who know Kelkar best often speak first not of his awards or publications, but of his commitment to students and his dedication to helping others succeed.
Jeffrey McDougall (B.S. ’84) first met Kelkar in fall 1983, when McDougall was a 22-year-old student in Kelkar’s Secondary Oil Recovery course, the first class Kelkar taught at UTulsa.
“I recall Mohan had a way of making the complex understandable and a genuine interest in the students he taught,” McDougall said. “Mohan really made himself available to help and encourage my learning and passion for petroleum engineering. For that, I will always be grateful.”
Neither could have known then how their paths would continue to intersect. “Now, 43 years later, I never would have imagined I would spend over 15 years of my later career working with Mohan as he has been the guiding light of the PE department,” McDougall said. “I am very thankful that my path crossed Mohan’s as my PE instructor and friend.”
That influence has been felt across generations of UTulsa petroleum engineering alumni.
“Dr. Kelkar’s influence reaches far beyond the classroom at UTulsa,” said alumna Kate Wallgren (B.S. ’04, M.E.B. ’25). “His legacy lives on in the careers and lives he has shaped through true care, a genuine investment in people, occasional tough love and a boisterous laugh that made even the hardest lessons feel human.” Like many former students, Wallgren continued to seek Kelkar’s counsel long after leaving campus. “I have turned to him for guidance throughout my career, and I am deeply grateful for his wisdom and friendship,” she said.
John Lindsay (B.S. ’86) similarly remembers lessons that extended well beyond engineering.
“Dr. Kelkar taught me and many other students far more than how to solve engineering problems,” Lindsay said. “He taught the value of hard work, perseverance and seeing a job through to completion. His 40-plus years of leadership and dedication to The University of Tulsa have left a lasting legacy – not only on the institution, but on generations of students like me.”
“For more than four decades, Mohan has shaped not only the McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering, but the lives and careers of countless students, colleagues and alumni,” said Andreas A. Polycarpou, dean of the College of Engineering & Computer Science. “His impact reaches far beyond the classroom, reflected in the global reputation of the McDougall School and the success of those he has mentored.”
Polycarpou noted that Kelkar’s leadership, intellectual curiosity and unwavering commitment to excellence helped establish a standard that continues to influence the college today.
“The establishment of the Mohan Kelkar Chair ensures that his legacy will continue to inspire innovation and leadership in petroleum engineering for generations to come,” he said.
James Brill, the Jeffrey J. McDougall Eminent Chair Professor of Petroleum Engineering and National Academy of Engineering member, credits Kelkar’s success to a rare combination of technical excellence, leadership and care for students.
“In addition to being a gifted teacher and researcher, Dr. Kelkar has provided incredible service to the School of Petroleum Engineering,” Brill said. “His leadership ability resulted in serving as school chair several times under difficult conditions.”
Brill also emphasized Kelkar’s role as an adviser and mentor. “In addition to being an amazing colleague, he has always been gifted in his ability to provide excellent academic and personal advice to students as they pursued both undergraduate and graduate studies,” Brill said.
Cem Sarica, the Floyd M. Stevenson Distinguished Presidential Chair of Petroleum Engineering, believes Kelkar’s leadership stemmed from his focus on others.
“Mohan has never had his own agenda. He is truly passionate about his students’ success and the success of the department,” Sarica said. “He respected, listened to and trusted the faculty. He understood each faculty member’s strengths and worked to create an environment where they could flourish. He has always been a true advocate for both the faculty and the department.”
Even in retirement, Kelkar contributes to the profession through educational outreach, his YouTube channel and his active involvement with the Society of Petroleum Engineers, sharing knowledge with engineers around the world and encouraging continued innovation within the discipline.
Investing in the future
While the campaign honors a remarkable career, it is ultimately about the future.
An endowed chair is among the highest distinctions a university can bestow. Endowed faculty positions provide permanent resources that attract and retain world-class faculty, support groundbreaking research, mentor graduate students and strengthen the university’s global reputation.
The Mohan Kelkar Chair will provide long-term support for:
- Innovative research in petroleum engineering and energy systems
- Graduate student mentorship and professional development
- Academic leadership within the McDougall School
- Excellence in teaching and student success
- Continued innovation in energy education
By investing in the Mohan Kelkar Chair, donors are helping ensure that future generations of students benefit from the same commitment to excellence, innovation and mentorship that defined Kelkar’s career.
With $1.5 million already raised toward the $5 million goal, the campaign has built significant momentum. An additional $3.5 million will fully endow the chair, creating a permanent source of support for the McDougall School and the students and faculty who will shape the future of petroleum engineering.
Every contribution plays a meaningful role. Gifts of all sizes help build a permanent legacy that will continue supporting students, faculty and industry innovation for decades to come.
An opportunity for alumni to give back
For many alumni, Kelkar was more than a professor. He was a mentor, adviser and trusted guide whose influence helped shape careers and lives.
By joining fellow alumni, industry leaders and friends in establishing the Mohan Kelkar Chair, donors become part of a lasting legacy, one that will support future faculty, inspire future students and strengthen the McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering for generations to come.
Honor the professor. Invest in the future. Build a legacy.
For information about supporting the Dr. Mohan Kelkar Chair of the McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering, contact Noreen Peters at noreen-peters@utulsa.edu or 918-631-3420.