Charles (Charlie) Schlinger
Title: Associate Professor, Watershed Research & Education Program Director, Professional
Department: Civil & Environmental Engineering
Degrees:
BS, University of Michigan at Flint
MSE, Utah State University
PhD, The Johns Hopkins University
Biography
I'm originally from Michigan and started teaching at NAU full-time in 1999. Presently, I cover the following undergraduate courses: Plane Surveying; Geotechnical Evaluation & Design; and Applied Hydraulics.
In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, operating, maintaining and showing antique tractors with my boys, snow skiing, exploring & traveling, music, theater, and film. I am a registered Professional Engineer in Arizona, California, Michigan & Minnesota; a registered Professional Geologist in Arizona & Wisconsin; and a registered Professional Geophysicist in California and I'm also a member of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials and the American Institute of Professional Geologists. Of late, I have decided to pursue professional registration as a land surveyor.
I've been honored by one NAU undergraduate as the faculty member who was most influential in his life while at NAU, and as an exemplary mentor by an ASU grad student. Working with NAU graduate and undergraduate students, I recently completed several projects in Fossil Creek, where we are looked at how sediment presently stored behind the Fossil Springs Diversion Dam will be released into the creek once the dam is lowered in 2008.
Presently, we are starting up a new Arizona Water Institute-sponsored project to look at the 'nexus' of linked water and energy conservation for rural Arizona. For 7 years, I directed or co-directed the Watershed Research & Education Program at NAU.
As a consulting engineer and scientist, I am actively engaged in the practice of engineering. Although it is at odds with traditional academic definitions concerning how faculty should best spend their time, I believe that in order to excel at engineering teaching, I must practice engineering, and I follow through by being active in the practice.
In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, operating, maintaining and showing antique tractors with my boys, snow skiing, exploring & traveling, music, theater, and film. I am a registered Professional Engineer in Arizona, California, Michigan & Minnesota; a registered Professional Geologist in Arizona & Wisconsin; and a registered Professional Geophysicist in California and I'm also a member of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials and the American Institute of Professional Geologists. Of late, I have decided to pursue professional registration as a land surveyor.
I've been honored by one NAU undergraduate as the faculty member who was most influential in his life while at NAU, and as an exemplary mentor by an ASU grad student. Working with NAU graduate and undergraduate students, I recently completed several projects in Fossil Creek, where we are looked at how sediment presently stored behind the Fossil Springs Diversion Dam will be released into the creek once the dam is lowered in 2008.
Presently, we are starting up a new Arizona Water Institute-sponsored project to look at the 'nexus' of linked water and energy conservation for rural Arizona. For 7 years, I directed or co-directed the Watershed Research & Education Program at NAU.
As a consulting engineer and scientist, I am actively engaged in the practice of engineering. Although it is at odds with traditional academic definitions concerning how faculty should best spend their time, I believe that in order to excel at engineering teaching, I must practice engineering, and I follow through by being active in the practice.
What do you enjoy most about teaching at Northern Arizona University?
The enthusiasm and energy that comes out of time spent with students here.
What do students like best about your class?
I suppose that it might be the connection to the real world; I try to emphasize both the principles and their applications.
In what ways have undergraduates participated in your research or other creative endeavors?
Undergraduate students have helped us immensely with our Fossil Creek project and other projects. Honestly and sincerely, I can tell you that we could not have accomplished all that we have without the contributions of NAU students.
What makes the classroom experience at Northern Arizona University unique?
I know something only about our engineering undergraduates. They are well-grounded, hard working and dedicated to their studies, but they have lives outside of classes and research. With their solid work ethic, employers before they even graduate heavily recruit our students.
What is your favorite class to teach at Northern Arizona University and why?
My favorite class is Plane Surveying. While teaching this course, the students, without really going out of their way, remind me to consider that I was once in their shoes. They are more similar to me than they are different and they face many of the same struggles in life as I do.
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