Dear UTulsa community,
With the 2024-25 school year in full swing, we are thrilled to welcome back faculty and students and share some exciting updates.
The University of Tulsa’s McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering is ranked No. 1 among undergraduate programs at private universities and No. 4 overall for 2025, according to U.S. News & World Report. This ranking is more than just an accolade to the university; it is evidence of the faculty’s dedication to academic excellence, innovative research, and impactful teaching.
The petroleum engineering faculty recently returned from the Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans where several of our faculty were honored at the awards ceremony. Cem Sarica, Ph.D. received the International Outstanding Faculty Award, Jun Lu, Ph.D. was awarded the Regional Reservoir Engineering and Description Award, and I was presented with an Honorary Membership
We are pleased to announce that Mike Stafford, PE, has been promoted to assistant professor of practice. A full-time faculty member since 2014, his consistent contributions to our undergraduate program have been invaluable, and we’re delighted to see him recognized with this well-deserved promotion.
We’re also thrilled to see our new energy transition graduate program usher in its first cohort. With concerns about climate change becoming more intense, expanding energy sources becomes more vital. This program, which launched last year in the College of Engineering & Computer Science, deals with the applications of sub-surface sciences to energy transition.
We look forward to a year of exciting opportunities and accomplishments. From advancing our academic programs to celebrating student and faculty achievements, we are committed to making this year one of growth, innovation, and success for our department. Together, we will continue to push boundaries and strive for excellence in all that we do.
Mohan Kelkar, Ph.D.
Chair of Petroleum Engineering