The University of Tulsa (UTulsa) announced plans to establish the Mohan Kelkar Chair of the McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering in honor of Mohan Kelkar, SPE, who has worked for the university for more than 4 decades. UTulsa has launched a campaign to raise $5 million to secure the endowment that will support petroleum engineering education, research, and graduate mentorship. To date, the campaign has raised $1.5 million.
Kelkar began working at UTulsa in 1983 and currently works as an applied professor emeritus of petroleum engineering in the McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering. He previously served as chair of the McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering from 2002–2016 and again from 2020–2025.
“For more than 4 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.”
“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.
He has published more than 60 refereed articles and is the author of SPE’s best-selling reference book Applied Geostatistics for Reservoir Description.
An SPE member since 1982, he has served on several committees including the Education & Accreditation Committee, Cedric K. Ferguson Medal Committee, Reservoir Description & Dynamics Advisory Committee, International Scholarship and Fellowship Selection Committee, and Reservoir Advisory Committee. He also served on the SPE Board of Directors from 2010–2013.
He is the recipient of the 2006 SPE Mid-Continent Regional Service Award, 2007 A Peer Apart Award, 2009 SPE International Distinguished Achievement Award for Petroleum Engineering Faculty, 2010 SPE Distinguished Membership, 2015 SPE Cedric K. Ferguson Certificate, 2018 SPE International Distinguished Service Award, and 2024 SPE Honorary Membership.
He holds a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Mumbai, an MS in petroleum engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, and a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.