College of

Engineering, Architecture and Technology

 

When faculty members at Oklahoma State University are passionate about making sure their students have every advantage to succeed, this fosters a relationship that can open career doors and influence innovation. 

   

Dr. Sundar Madihally, professor, undergraduate program director and ABET coordinator for the School of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at OSU, is a faculty member who goes above and beyond to ensure his students have success.

    

In recognition of this passion, Madihally was named a Fellow by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Nominated by their peers, AIChE Fellows must have significant experience in chemical engineering, demonstrate significant service to the profession and have been an AIChE member for at least 10 years. 

   

“It is very special to be at the point where people recognize my service,” Madihally said. “It’s the highest level of membership you can have with AIChE. Only about 2% of members achieve that, so it means a lot to me, especially as this year is the start of my 25th year at Oklahoma State University.”

   

Madihally has more than two decades of service to AIChE, formerly serving as advisor to the OSU student chapter, for which he was awarded AIChE’s National Advisor of the Year award in 2011.

    

He has a passion for helping students and showing them there are many different paths they can take toward their careers. He helped found the Biomedical Graduate Student Association in the fall 2025 semester at OSU, started the Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association in 2012 and advised the Indian Student Association at OSU for five years.

    

He has been heavily involved with the AIChE Chem-E Car competition, in which students design and craft a car powered by a chemical energy source that can be safely used. Although the team has not competed for a few years, students can still get the experience through a course created to encourage learning these concepts.    

The organization welcomes students from other engineering disciplines, and a course was started to encourage students learning these concepts. Madihally said this allows chemical engineers to learn from other disciplines, and vice versa.  

Madihally has also been passionate about helping future faculty members attain positions at universities around the country through the AIChE Meet the Faculty Candidates Poster Session since 2004. 

   

AIChE members interested in becoming faculty members take part in a poster presentation during the annual organizational meeting. Universities share open faculty positions with AIChE and Madihally is among those who will review openings and candidates and guide them through the process, meeting with them regularly.    

“I think giving students and faculty a space where they can network can be very beneficial,” Madihally said. “When I took over, about 60 people were participating in the future faculty mentoring program. In November 2025, 450 people were participating.”

   

Madihally is also keen on the importance of students being involved with professional organizations. In addition to AIChE, Madihally is a member of the Biomedical Engineering Society and the American Society of Engineering Education.   He is the founding advisor to the OSU Biomedical Engineering Society student organization.  

In one of his courses, it is a requirement for students to join a professional society, allowing  them to receive certifications in areas that can lead to internships where these certifications are a requirement.

    

“Professional societies allow you to be current with the knowledge that you have and changes in the industry,” Madihally said. “It also allows you to contribute from your own experiences. It’s a lot of give and take; it’s not a one-way street. To be relevant to what I teach, I must be involved in professional organizations.”

   

Madihally embodies the concept of faculty members focusing on teaching, research and service to their students and university. This recognition is just another feather in the cap of an OSU faculty member whose greatest passion is helping his students.

    

“Publishing and funding are critical, but we are a land-grant university, so our mission includes teaching and making sure our graduates have everything they need to succeed,” Madihally said.