Paul Barr Named Vice Provost for Utah State University

Paul J. Barr, a professor in Utah State University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been named vice provost of the institution. Barr, whose official duties as vice provost begin Dec. 1, will replace Edward Reeve, who recently stepped back into the faculty after having served as interim vice provost since January 2017. 

“Paul’s vast teaching, research and administrative experience, combined with his long-standing career at USU, will benefit the institution as we move into a new decade,” said USU Executive Vice President and Provost Frank Galey. “I look forward to working with him to help our faculty succeed and flourish.”

As vice provost, Barr will be responsible for managing the promotion and tenure central committee process and managing curriculum and associated budgets. Additionally, Barr will chair the Education Policies Committee, manage the search process for academic executives and facilitate faculty code revision and application. He will also administer the Tenure Academy, new faculty orientation, teaching documentation workshop and other comprehensive faculty development programs. 

“One topic that stood out to me during the interview process was the commitment from the President and Provost’s offices to support faculty, staff and students in achieving success,” said Barr. “I am really excited to support those goals in this new position and look forward to working with all the great people that are here at Utah State University.”

Barr has been a faculty member at USU since 2003 and has been serving as the department head for Civil and Environmental Engineering since 2014.  His teaching and research interests have focused on the reinforced concrete design, finite element analysis and behavior of bridges. Barr has been involved in bridge testing and long-term instrumentation of bridges throughout the United States. Recent projects have included a long-term bridge performance program, forensic testing of 40-year-old prestressed concrete bridge girders and the long-term structural health monitoring of integral abutment bridges. He currently serves as the director of the Utah Transportation Center. 

Barr earned a bachelor’s from USU in 1995 and completed a master’s and doctorate at the University of Washington in 1998 and 2000, respectively. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and has supervised over 30 graduate students.  He is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Utah where, in 2017, he was awarded the Engineering Educator of the Year by the Utah Engineers Council.