College of

Engineering, Architecture and Technology

                                                                                                          

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Bruce W. Russell, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Oklahoma State University, has been invited to join the inaugural class of the CEES Academy at the University of Oklahoma. This prestigious honor recognizes Russell's outstanding contributions to the field of civil and environmental engineering and his excellent service to the academic community.  

 

The CEES Academy was established to honor alumni and affiliates of the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science at OU for their professional activities and service. Membership is by invitation only and aims to have a broad representation, with an inaugural class of at least 50 members. Subsequent classes will include a minimum of 20 members, with the goal of maintaining an active membership of 200-250 individuals. All members must have at least 20 years of post-baccalaureate service and have distinguished themselves in their professional careers. A board of directors will be chosen from the initial class to oversee membership and coordinate the annual induction banquet.

 

Russell's career is marked by numerous achievements and accolades. He joined the CEES faculty at the University of Oklahoma in 1992 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 1999. During his tenure at OU, Dr. Russell: 

 

• Twice won the George W. Tauxe Award as the CEES’ Outstanding Professor. 

• Twice received the “Golden Cheeks Award” from the ASCE and Chi Epsilon student chapters. 
• Advised 15 graduate students and two Ph.D. candidates to completion.  One of his students became Head Football Coach at an NCAA Institution.

• Operated 22 externally funded grants totaling $1,277,369. 

• Represented the OU College of Engineering in the Faculty Senate. 

In 2002, Dr. Russell joined the CIVE faculty at Oklahoma State University for the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology where he played a role in the establishment of the Bert Cooper Engineering Laboratory. 

 

He has been elected as a Fellow by both the Prestressed Concrete Institute (2025) and the American Concrete Institute (2003). Russell became an honorary chapter member of Chi Epsilon at OSU in 2021. His accolades include the Multi-Cultural Engineering Faculty of the Year (2011), the George D. Nasser Award for Outstanding Publication in the PCI Journal (2006). He also received the T.Y. Lin Award from ASCE for Outstanding Publication (1994) and the Martin P. Korn Award from the PCI Journal (1993). 

 

Russell's research interests encompass structural monitoring of highway bridges, load factors, reliability and rating of highway bridges, detailing end regions for ductility in prestressed concrete bridge girders, bond and development of prestressed reinforcement, high-performance and high-strength concrete materials, code development for ACI Building Code and AASHTO LRFD bridge design specifications, and the prediction and control of camber and prestressed losses in concrete.  Russell’s bridge designs and reinforcement details have been used in various forms in more than 800 newly built prestressed concrete bridges across Oklahoma since the late 1990s and represent more than $1 billion in infrastructure investment.  

 

He has published 50 journal and peer-reviewed articles, secured 59 funded research projects totaling $9,617,692, and advised 37 M.S. and 6 Ph.D. students, with 7 of his graduate advisees holding faculty positions in the USA. Russell has served as Vice-Chair, Chair, and Past-Chair of the OSU General Faculty and Faculty Council (2009-2011) and as the AISES Faculty Sponsor (2010-2023). He served three terms as a voting member of the Building Code for Structural Concrete ACI 318-25 (2002-2014, 2019-2025) and has been actively involved in various PCI and ACI committees, including the PCI Committee on Bridges, PCI Prestressed Reinforcement Committee, PCI Bridge Producers Committee, ACI/ASCE 423 and ACI Publications. Additionally, he also served on the Board of Directors for the North American Strand Producers Association (1997-2007). 

 

The inaugural induction banquet for the CEES Academy is scheduled for the evening of April 25, 2025, in Norman, Oklahoma. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Russell on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to celebrating his upcoming achievements.