Ronald S. Harichandran, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE
Tagliatela College of Engineering
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 at the University of New Haven in August 2011. Prior to that he was a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Michigan State University (MSU) and served as the department chair from 1995-2011. Dr. Harichandran’s technical specialty is structural engineering, he has performed research on earthquake, pavement, bridge and fire engineering, and he has published over 100 journal and conference proceedings papers and technical reports. He has mentored 12 Ph.D. students and 6 M.S. thesis students. He has taught a broad range of courses in structural analysis, design, dynamics, and probabilistic methods. He was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2005, and inducted into the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering in 2014.
As an administrator, Dr. Harichandran has fostered the growth of research, teaching, outreach and international programs.
As Dean at the University of New Haven he is working to strengthen academic programs, research and scholarship. He initiated the development of academic focus areas in renewable energy, sustainability, wireless communications and digital forensics that cut across multiple programs. He serves as the PI on two grants that have resulted in curricular innovations in all engineering and computer science programs: (1) the Project to Integrate Technical Communication Habits funded by the David Educational Foundation; and (2) Developing Entrepreneurial Thinking in Engineering Students by Utilizing Integrated Online Modules and Experiential Learning Opportunities funded by the Kern Family Foundation. He served on the leadership team to launch the M.S. in Data Science program in San Francisco in partnership with Galvanize, a new M.S. in Biomedical Engineering program, and a fully online M.S. in Environmental Engineering program. He initiated the first Senior Design Expo in May 2012 to showcase senior design projects in all programs, and established a coordinated senior design course schedule beginning in Fall 2012 to facilitate interdisciplinary projects. His other accomplishments include: fundraising in support of academic programs; development of a strategic plan for the college; accreditation of eight BS programs (six in engineering, one in computer science and one in chemistry); development of engineering study abroad programs at the University of New Haven campus in Prato, Italy; establishment of an Entrepreneurial Engineering Living Learning Community for First-Year students; and coordination of programs with the grade 6-12 New Haven Engineering and Science University Magnet School.
As a department chair at Michigan State University he engaged in fundraising and helped design and construct laboratory facilities, including the 12,200 sq. ft. Civil Infrastructure Laboratory and Structural Fire Testing Facility at MSU. He guided successful ABET accreditation of the MSU civil engineering undergraduate program in 1998, 2004 and 2010, and helped establish a B.S. program in environmental Engineering in 2011. He helped establish and conduct successful study-abroad programs with partner institutions in Russia and Turkey. He interacted with private, government, legislative, and university personnel to establish the National Center for Pavement Preservation at MSU in 2003. He also helped establish the Michigan Transportation Research Board in 2005 and served as its inaugural chair.
(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
Nossoni, G., Harichandran, R. S. (in press). “Electrochemical-mechanistic model for concrete cover cracking due to corrosion initiated by chloride diffusion.” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering , ASCE .
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.
Tarinejad, R., Fatehi, R., and Harichandran, R. S. (2013). “Response of an arch dam
to non-uniform excitation generated by a seismic wave scattering model.” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 52, 40-54.
Nossoni, G., Harichandran, R. S. (2012). “Current efficiency in accelerated corrosion testing of concrete.” Corrosion, 68(9), 801-809.
Gong, A., and Harichandran, R. S. (2012). “Wood-cement particleboard: impact behavior and potential application in crash barriers.” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, 24(1), 134-140.
Zhang, G., Harichandran, R.S., and Ramuhalli, P. (2011). “Application of noise cancelling and damage detection algorithms in NDE of concrete bridge decks using impact signals.” Journal of Nondestructuve Evaluation, 30(4), 259-274.
Iqbal, S., and Harichandran, R.S. (2010). “Capacity reduction and fire load factors for LRFD of steel members exposed to fire.” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, 136(12), 1554-1562.
Hong, S., and Harichandran, R. S. (2005). “Sensors to monitor CFRP/concrete bond in beams using electrochem¬ical impedance spectroscopy.” Journal of Composites for Construction, ASCE, 9(6), 515-523.
Chen, M.-T., and Harichandran, R. S. (2001). “Response of an earth dam to spatially varying earthquake ground motion.” Journal of Engineering Mechanics, ASCE, 127(9), 932-939.
Harichandran, R. S., Mahmood, T., Raab, A., and Baladi, G. Y. (1993). “A modified Newton algorithm for backcalculation of pavement layer properties.” Transportation Research Record, 1384, 15-22.
Harichandran, R. S., Yeh, M-S., and Baladi, G. Y. (1990). “MICH-PAVE: a nonlinear finite element program for the analysis of flexible pavements.” Transportation Research Record, 1286, 123-131.
Harichandran, R. S., and Vanmarcke, E. (1986). “Stochastic variation of earthquake ground motion in space and time.” Journal of Engineering Mechanics, ASCE, 112(2), 154-174, and 113(8), 1271-1273.
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.