Education
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.S. in Civil Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B.E. in Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Licensed Professional Engineer, Michigan
About Ronald
Ron Harichandran was appointed Dean of the Tagliatela College of Engineering in August 2011. In April 2019 he was also named Vice Provost for Research. Prior to that he was a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Michigan State University (MSU) and served as the department chair for 16 years. His technical specialty is structural engineering and he has performed research on earthquake, pavement, bridge and fire engineering and engineering education, and has published over 170 journal and conference proceedings papers and technical reports. He has taught a broad range of courses in structural analysis, design, dynamics, and probabilistic methods.
Dr. Harichandran has stimulated innovations in all engineering and computer science programs by leading initiatives such as: (1) an integrated approach to developing technical communication skills; (2) development of an entrepreneurial mindset in students through integrated e-learning modules; (3) implementation of first year and career mentorship programs; and (4) securing two congressionally directed grants totaling $544,000 to purchase equipment in support of cybersecurity education and research. He is also a co-PI on a $4 million Scholarship for Service grant from NSF.
Dr. Harichandran is an elected member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering and a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Click here for Dr. Harichandran's full curriculum vitae.
Awards and Honors
Member, Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, 2014.
Withrow Exceptional Service Award, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, 2011.
Executive Leadership Academy, Michigan State University, 2009-10.
ASCE Department Heads Council Executive Committee, chair (2008-10), secretary (2006-08), member (2003-10).
Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2005.
ASCE Body of Knowledge II Committee, 2005-07.
Michigan Transportation Research Board, Founding chair, 2005-10.
CIC Academic Leadership Fellow, Michigan State University, 1996-97.
Teacher-Scholar Award, Michigan State University, 1992.
Selected Publications
Breitinger, F., Tully-Doyle, R., Przyborski, K., Beck, L., and Harichandran, R. S. (2021). “First year students' experience in a Cyber World course – an evaluation.” Education and Information Technologies, 26(1), 1069–1087.
Harichandran, R. S., Erdil, N. O., Carnasciali, M-I., Nocito-Gobel, J., and Li, Q. (2018). “Developing an entrepreneurial mindset in engineering students using integrated e-learning modules.” Advances in Engineering Education, 7(1).
Nossoni, G., Harichandran, R. S. (2014). “Electrochemical-mechanistic model for concrete cover cracking due to corrosion initiated by chloride diffusion.” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, 26(6).
Tarinejad, R., Ahmadi, M. T., and Harichandran, R. S. (2014). "Full-scale experimental modal analysis of an arch dam: the first experience in Iran." Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 61-62, 188-196.
Recent Grants
Davis Educational Foundation, "Project to integrate technical communication habits," with co-PIs Michael Collura, Jean Nocito-Gobel, John Saris and Amir Esmailpour, July 2012-July 2015.
Kern Family Foundation, "Developing entrepreneurial thinking in engineering students by utilizing integrated online modules and experiential learning opportunities, with co-Pls: Maria-Isabel Carnasciali, Jean Nocito-Gobel, Nadiye Erdil and Cheryl Li. Feb. 2015-Aug. 2018.
Kern Family Foundation, "Developing entrepreneurial thinking in engineering students by utilizing integrated online modules and a leadership cohort, with co-Pls: Maria-Isabel Carnasciali and Jean Nocito-Gobel. June 2014-May 2015.