Sudarshan Kurwadkar wins Cal State 2025 Outstanding Professor Award

Indian American environmental engineer earns top faculty honor for scholarship and teaching

By Arun Kumar

Sudarshan Kurwadkar, an Indian American environmental engineer who grew up in a small tribal village in India and is the first person in his family to earn a college degree, has won the 2025 Cal State Fullerton’s Outstanding Professor Award.

Kurwadkar, the first engineer from his hometown of Gondpipari, was chosen for the award for his teaching, scholarship and contributions to the university and the California State University system, according to a university press release.

READ: Menaka Hampole receives early career research award (April 11th, 2025) 

“It’s a privilege to belong to an institution that prioritizes innovation, inclusivity and excellence in education,” said Kurwadkar, professor of civil and environmental engineering. “The teamwork we foster in advancing knowledge and nurturing a supportive environment for our students is inspiring.”

Kurwadkar, who holds a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees in civil engineering from Indian universities, went on to earn a doctorate in environmental engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.

“I faced challenges as the first person in my family to go beyond high school. I share this background with many of our students and deeply understand the obstacles they may face,” he said.

Kurwadkar joined the university in 2014 and earned early promotion twice, achieving full tenure in six years.

Phoolendra Mishra, chair and professor of civil and environmental engineering, shared that Kurwadkar’s passion for his discipline fosters student engagement and learning.

“An exceptional educator must possess genuine enthusiasm for the subject matter and demonstrate a sincere commitment to ensuring students’ comprehension,” Mishra said. “Dr. Kurwadkar embodies these qualities, making him an outstanding educator.”

Kurwadkar’s research focuses on the occurrence and distribution of organic and inorganic contaminants of emerging concern in water and soil environments. His investigations include pharmaceuticals in Southern California wastewater treatment plants.

He has directed more than $2 million in grants, including a $1.5 million National Science Foundation award, which enhanced the learning experiences of underrepresented engineering and computer science students.

Kurwadkar has published three books and developed several new civil engineering courses. He has also authored over 50 research publications, with many co-authored by his students.

One of his 2021 research articles co-authored by two graduate students, has been cited nearly 600 times, illustrating his significant impact in environmental engineering. In recognition of his scholarship, Kurwadkar received the university’s 2020 L. Donald Shields Excellence in Scholarship and Creativity Award.

Beyond the classroom, Kurwadkar has received four summer faculty fellowships with the U.S. Air Force, two with the U.S. Department of Energy, and a National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Fellowship.

Internationally, he received a faculty fellowship in Israel in 2022 and a visiting fellowship in Thailand in 2023.

Other accolades include receiving the 2019 Outstanding Faculty Adviser Award for Orange County, Los Angeles and California from the American Society of Civil Engineering. Last year, he was elected a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers.