From Stillwater scholar to national leader, OSU alum reflects on a career
Monday, July 21, 2025
Media Contact: Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT Marketing and Communications | 405-744-5831 | kristi.wheeler@okstate.edu
In the ever-evolving world of engineering and innovation, few names carry the weight of experience, leadership and legacy quite like Dr. John R. English. A respected academic and accomplished administrator, English's professional path has spanned decades and disciplines, and his academic journey at Oklahoma State University was just the beginning.
English earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and his master’s degree in operations research both from the University of Arkansas.
Earning his Ph.D. in industrial engineering and management from OSU, English credits the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology not just with shaping his scholarly foundation but with inspiring the kind of forward-thinking leadership that would define his career.
“OSU taught me how to think both deeply and broadly,” English reflected. “It’s where I learned to bridge theory and practice, and where I saw the true value of mentorship and collaboration in engineering.”
That mindset carried him far. From his early faculty days at Texas A&M to serving as head of industrial engineering at the University of Arkansas, English steadily rose through the ranks of academia. As dean of engineering at both Kansas State University and the University of Arkansas, he helped reshape two major institutions, expanding research, growing student bodies and strengthening their national profiles.
Under his leadership at Arkansas, the College of Engineering set new research records, surpassed major fundraising goals and opened the state-of-the-art Grady E. Harvell Civil Engineering Research and Education Center. His tenure as vice chancellor for research and innovation further solidified his reputation as a catalyst for progress and cross-campus collaboration.
A Fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers and former editor of the IIE Transactions, General Chair of the Reliability and Maintainability Symposium, and senior vice president of publications for IIE, English’s research in quality, reliability and logistics has been widely published-often in collaboration with students and colleagues. He was also the inaugural director of the NSF-backed Center for Engineering Logistics and Distribution, reinforcing his commitment to practical, applied innovation.
But through it all, OSU remained a touchstone.
English remains a driving force at his Cowboy alma mater, actively contributing through the IEM Cowboy Academy and now serving as Chair of OSU's Engagement Committee.
“Stillwater is more than where I earned a degree — it’s where I learned how to lead,” said English, who recently retired from the University of Arkansas in January 2025. “There’s a special spirit at Oklahoma State. It’s entrepreneurial. It’s rooted in real-world impact.”
Now enjoying retirement near his daughter and grandchildren, English is focused on family, reflection and mentoring the next generation of engineers. He and his wife of nearly 43 years, Elizabeth Carol Springer, recently moved to be closer to their daughter Sara, her husband Kelley and their three children.
“Everything I’ve done, from teaching to administration, comes back to what I learned at OSU,” English said. “It’s where I discovered that engineering is not just a profession — it’s a service.”
As OSU continues to shape future engineers and visionaries, it does so on the shoulders of those who carry its legacy forward — leaders like English, whose orange roots still run deep.