Utah State University mourns former engineering dean Jagath Kaluarachchi, remembered for decades of growth
Utah State University is mourning the loss of Jagath Kaluarachchi, the former dean of the College of Engineering, after the university confirmed he died on March 17 at the age of 70. The announcement was published on March 20, 2026, with tributes emphasizing his decades-long role inside the engineering community. The university described him as a central figure who guided academic and research expansion while also pushing for student-focused resources.
What Utah State University confirmed, and what is known right now
Jagath Kaluarachchi, a native of Sri Lanka and a longtime member of the university community, served at Utah State University for more than three decades. At the time of his retirement, he was dean of the College of Engineering.
The university’s account credits Kaluarachchi with steering the college through sustained growth in both academics and research. It also details a broad set of changes and investments during his leadership, spanning research awards, research centers, endowed professorships, faculty growth, student study and support spaces, and expanded graduate programs.
Immediate reactions: tributes from the College of Engineering
Matt Jensen, director of communications for the College of Engineering, remembered Kaluarachchi in personal terms while underscoring his influence across campus.
“Jagath will be remembered as a kind and compassionate leader, ” Jensen said. “He impacted the lives of so many people at USU. I learned a lot from him and am forever grateful for the opportunities he gave me. ”
Beyond the personal tributes, the university’s published summary points to measurable institutional shifts during his tenure. Kaluarachchi doubled research awards across the college and expanded the number of research centers to nine, including the National Science Foundation-sponsored ASPIRE Engineering Research Center for electrified transportation.
He also established the college’s first three endowed professorships and grew the faculty through the Engineering Initiative legislative funding program. In student support, the university credited him with driving the creation of multiple resources, including a dedicated student study space, the Engineering Tutoring Center, the Engineering Writing Center, the Metal Factory, the Idea Factory, and the Engineering Math Resource Center, as well as upgraded computer labs.
Legacy in programs and research: a long arc of expansion
Under his leadership, the College of Engineering added new master’s programs in composite materials and structures, engineering education, space systems engineering, and a first-of-its-kind online aerospace engineering master’s program.
Kaluarachchi’s academic background and research identity were also central to how colleagues described his career. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka, then a master’s degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in hydrology from the University of Hong Kong. He completed doctoral work at Virginia Tech in 1988 in environmental sciences and engineering, with an emphasis on subsurface hydrology and contaminant transport.
In the water resources engineering community, the university described him as an active researcher for 30 years, and noted he was named a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Environmental & Water Resources Institute. He was also a diplomate in Water Resources Engineering through the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers. The university said he received several teaching and research awards from USU, including the Robins award for Outstanding Faculty Researcher in 2007.
Quick context and what’s next
The university described Kaluarachchi as widely respected for his commitment to education as a force for change, alongside a reputation for humility despite major professional accomplishments.
Utah State University said memorial events and additional information will be provided through the memorial materials referenced in its announcement, as the College of Engineering community prepares to honor Jagath Kaluarachchi’s legacy in the days ahead.
