News Releases: Iowa State University

QUICK LINKS
Today's News
News releases
ISU homepage

NEWS RELEASE

4-23-03

Contacts:
Chuck Jahren, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, (515) 294-3829
Pam Reinig, Engineering Communications, (515) 294-0261
Skip Derra, News Service, (515) 294-4917

JAHREN APPOINTED TO ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP

AMES, Iowa -- Charles Jahren, professor-in-charge of construction engineering in the department of civil, construction, and environmental engineering at Iowa State University, has been named the first recipient of the W.A. Klinger Teaching Professorship. The appointment recognizes Jahren's teaching and research leadership in Iowa State's construction engineering program.

"The Klinger teaching professorship is a true 'investment in people,' in that it will ultimately benefit engineering students today and well into the future," said Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy. "The Klinger professorship will ensure that the high level of learning, encouraged by exemplary professors like Chuck Jahren, will continue in the department of civil, construction and environmental engineering for many years to come."

Jahren's teaching interests have included cost estimating, construction equipment and construction process design. His research emphasizes construction process improvement and scheduling.

Jahren came to Iowa State in 1993. After earning a doctoral degree in construction engineering from Purdue University in 1987, Jahren spent six years at the University of Washington, Seattle. He also has six years of industry experience in construction. He earned a Master's in Business Administration and a civil engineering degree from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

The W.A. Klinger Teaching Professorship was created by a gift from the estate of William and Catherine Klinger. William Klinger was the founder of W.A. Klinger Inc., an Iowa-based construction company. In the 1950s, he was deeply involved in helping to create Iowa State's construction engineering curriculum. William Klinger died in 1971 and Catherine Klinger in 1990.

"Bill Klinger was regarded as the authority on higher education in construction engineering and since his direct influence helped to create our program, there could be no more appropriate legacy than to establish this teaching chair in his name," said James Melsa, dean of engineering at Iowa State.

Iowa State is one of only seven schools in the country that offers a construction engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. With an undergraduate enrollment of 337 students, it is the largest program of its type in the U.S.

Jahren is one of 14 engineering faculty members who hold distinguished, named positions established by designated gifts within the College of Engineering. He will be honored at a reception April 24 at the Knoll. Members of the Klinger family, including their daughter Helen Gleeson, and her three children, John Gleeson, Barbara Gleeson Johns, and Jane Gleeson, are expected to attend.

-30-