ABQ Times

Charles B. Fleddermann, who joined The University of New Mexico School of Engineering in the fall of 1985, has announced his retirement from UNM, effective July 1, 2024.

Since 2002, Fleddermann has served as associate dean for academic affairs and community engagement in the School of Engineering. In this role, he oversaw the school’s academic advising and the Engineering Student Success Center. He was also involved in curriculum approval, statewide articulation, and accreditation processes, including those by ABET.

In 2023, he briefly held the position of interim Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing before Donna Riley took over. Later that year, he was promoted to senior associate dean.

Fleddermann graduated from high school in Pensacola, Fla., and pursued a career in engineering influenced by a high school physics teacher. "He created an electronics class, and I just loved it," he said. "It got me excited about electrical engineering."

He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1977 and subsequently worked at Texas Instruments for a year before pursuing graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There he obtained his master’s degree and Ph.D. in electrical engineering by 1985.

During his time at Illinois, Fleddermann met his future wife Liz and traveled around Europe before moving to Albuquerque to start his career at UNM.

Although unfamiliar with New Mexico initially, Fleddermann found its natural landscapes appealing after seeing them on a road atlas. He was also attracted to UNM's growing spirit and upward trajectory within its Engineering Research Centers (ERCs).

One notable opportunity that drew him to UNM was a joint-appointment program with Sandia National Laboratories which allowed him to split his time between both institutions for three years. This arrangement enabled him to conduct research while progressing on the tenure track at UNM's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Fleddermann became known for teaching courses such as engineering ethics alongside microelectronics and circuit theory. He advanced to associate professor in 1991 and full professor by 1998.

After achieving tenure, Fleddermann shifted focus towards student services, academic affairs, administration, and outreach. His roles included associate chair for undergraduate affairs in Electrical and Computer Engineering starting in 2001 and acting dean of Graduate Studies from 2007-09.

Among various accolades during his tenure were the Gardner-Zemke Professor Award (2002-05) and the Distinguished Teacher Award (2001). He is a senior member of IEEE with memberships in several professional societies including ASEE.

In recent years Fleddermann co-principally investigated NSF-funded projects aimed at combating harassment within engineering fields while promoting high school-level introductory engineering courses through E4USA program partnerships with local schools like Sandia Prep High School.

Throughout two decades with ABET involvement—an agency accrediting applied science programs globally—he led multiple successful evaluation cycles for UNM's School of Engineering becoming their resident expert on assessments since transitioning toward EC2000 standards back during late '90s efforts requiring outcomes-based assessment methodologies aligning curricula changes accordingly proving efficacy continually thereafter effectively convincing faculty adopting these newer practices eventually applying as evaluator traveling internationally evaluating programs similarly abroad ever since ongoing till present day ultimately resulting recognition globally acknowledged esteemed expertise renowned academically overall throughout career span essentially

Reflecting upon contributions made across decades spent shaping institution positively impacting numerous students' lives substantially significantly via educational endeavors enhancing curricular structures evidently resulting improved learning experiences appreciably thus fostering better educators among faculties therein likewise

As retirement looms officially come summer despite stepping down formally intends remaining active still evaluating perhaps teaching occasionally given long-standing association inherently felt passion undoubtedly missed camaraderie shared colleagues interactions youthful exuberance students constantly rejuvenating sentiments expressed succinctly

A celebration marking Fleddermann's impactful career will be held on Thursday June twentieth evening Centennial Engineering Center Stamm Commons ahead anticipated announcement successor forthcoming public forums detailed information candidates scheduled events expected released soon according Dean Donna Riley envisaged timeline prior Fall semester commencing subsequently assuredly