Medhat A. Haroun

Dr. Medhat A. Haroun was Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), teaching at UCI for nearly twenty years and having served as two-term Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). Professor Haroun obtained his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Structural and Earthquake Engineering from Caltech in 1979 and 1976, respectively, and was the Valedictorian of the 1973 Civil Engineering class of Cairo University. He also served as the Dean of the School of Sciences and Engineering at the American University in Cairo (AUC), and later became AUC Provost. On October 18, 2012, at the age of 61, Dr. Haroun passed away after battling pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Haroun was instrumental in the growth and development of the CEE program at UCI.  He was Chair when the Engineering Gateway Building was constructed, was one of the few responsible for creating the Structural Engineering Test Hall, and he led the CEE Affiliates support on the development of the Shake Table in the Structures Lab Facility. His work, research, and mentorship have made a pronounced impact on the industry and the University.

During his tenure, the “Friends of Civil Engineering” affiliates group at UCI was developed with industry leaders, and later renamed the “Civil and Environmental Engineering Affiliates.” The group represents a critical link between the university and the local engineering community, by providing guidance on curricula, delivering professional aspects of the CEE program, providing employment opportunities for students and engaging the community with regularly scheduled symposia.

Professor Haroun’s research efforts were concerned with theoretical and experimental modeling of the behavior of structural systems under seismic loading.  He contributed more than 300 technical publications. The research encompasses analysis, design, retrofit, and repair of structures such as liquid storage tanks, highway bridges, dams, buildings, and industrial facilities.  He was a registered Professional Engineer in the State of California.

Dr. Haroun received numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to research, teaching and services including the Martin Duke Lifeline Earthquake Engineering Award (2006) and the Walter Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize (1992), both from the American Society of Civil Engineers; Distinguished Engineering Educator Awards (2000, 1995, 1992) from the Orange County and the Los Angeles Councils of Engineers and Scientists; Distinguished Faculty Lectureship Award for Teaching (1997), University of California; and Excellence in Teaching Award (2003), the American University in Cairo; as well as the AUC President’s Distinguished Service Award (2008) and the Excellence in Academic Service Award (2010).