Paul Tikalsky

Paul J. Tikalsky (born December 30, 1960) is an American engineer, researcher, and educational leader. He is the current dean for the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University, assuming this position July 1, 2012. . Dean Tikalsky holds the Donald and Cathey Humphreys Chair of Engineering and has a dual appointment as professor of civil engineering and materials science and engineering. Tikalsky received his B.S. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and both his M.S. and his Ph.D. in structural engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Tikalsky was an associate professor of civil engineering at Santa Clara University and then went to Pennsylvania State University where he was a professor of civil and environmental engineering, as well as the deputy director of the Larson Transportation Institute and director of the CATO Materials and Structures Lab. He was later named the chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (including Nuclear Engineering) at the University of Utah. Tikalsky has received numerous awards and accolades, including senior research fellow with the Czech Academy of Sciences; senior research fellow for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers; fellow of the American Concrete Institute; fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers; Twice named the State of Utah's Engineering Educator of the Year; He was presented with the Joe W. Kelly Award.

Tikalsky's research led to chemical durability discoveries for the scientific and engineering practices of utilizing fly ash and other pozzolans in concrete around the world. The timing of the research in conjunction with the implementation of the Clean Air Act has led to hundreds of millions of tons of fly ash used in high performance concrete, bridges and buildings, averting disposal and improving the durability of these structures. He has also contributed to the area of simulation based mathematics and reliability assessment with applications in engineering materials and structural deterioration.