Dear colleagues,
As we move through the final stretch of the spring semester, I continue to be inspired by the momentum across the College of Engineering & Computer Science. I am pleased to share several recent highlights that reflect the depth and breadth of this work.
This past month, the College of Engineering & Computer Science hosted a National Academy of Engineering member-led event on the topic of “Energy and Subsurface Engineering: Challenges, Technologies and Future Directions.” This marks the second consecutive year our university has hosted this prestigious gathering. The event brought together leaders from academia, industry and government to engage in thoughtful discussion on the future of energy and subsurface engineering.
In addition, I am proud to report that UTulsa’s McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering has been named among the top 100 petroleum engineering programs worldwide in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject. This recognition places UTulsa among a select group of global institutions acknowledged for academic excellence, research impact and strong post graduation outcomes.
Student success remains a central measure of institutional impact, and we recently celebrated three current and former UTulsa students who were awarded 2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships. These highly competitive awards highlight the importance of early research engagement, strong mentoring and cross-disciplinary preparation at the undergraduate level. When students are trained to think rigorously and creatively, they can thrive across a wide range of national research priorities.
College faculty continue to advance impactful research, highlighted by recent work examining the shift from launching fully built spacecraft to assembling complex systems in orbit. This approach drives innovation across materials, robotics, autonomous systems and systems engineering, while also reshaping how engineers are trained to work across integrated, interdisciplinary technologies.
These achievements reflect the dedication of our faculty and staff to advancing knowledge and preparing the next generation of engineers and scientists. I look forward to sharing their forthcoming findings.
Regards,
Andreas A. Polycarpou
James Sorem Inaugural Dean
College of Engineering and Computer Science
The University of Tulsa