Beyond The Classroom: Dr. Roesner Woodworks in Spare Time
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"It is a challenge; its problem solving to figure out how to build and put things together." While this would ring true of any of his engineering projects, Dr. Larry Roesner, professor of civil engineering, is describing one of his many passions, woodworking. The son of a furniture refinisher, Dr. Roesner was immersed in the woodworking industry from an early age. Today he enjoys looking through furniture catalogs for ideas, then building the pieces himself. Over the years, Dr. Roesner has constructed everything from baby changing tables to a desk he designed for his wife Kathy, and built using wood from a Florida Cherry tree he chopped down himself. Throughout the years, not only has Dr. Roesner passed on his love of the hobby through the boxes he builds for friends, but also by teaching all four of his children the art. With his son, he built a sideboard; with his daughter, a jewelry box when she was just 12 years old. And it is probably safe to assume his young grandchild will be acquiring the interest one day as well.
In addition to his woodworking pursuits, Dr. Roesner has put his construction skills into use through his volunteer efforts with the Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity. Dr. Roesner has volunteered with the organization over the past three years, serving as a team leader. In this position he was responsible for assisting with the construction of the interior walls of homes, as well as instructing teams of approximately 10 people in various phases of the projects. "I feel sad for people who cant afford to get into a home they can call their own, and I enjoyed helping these people. They work on the project alongside the volunteers, and were out every Saturday and Sunday helping to construct their new home. To see them work and to see the looks on their faces as the houses start to take shape is just very rewarding. The first house we built was for a family from Mexico, and the second for a single mother." Dr. Roesner comments that the volunteers ranged in age from children to retirees, and all houses were built in Fort Collins for families identified by Habitat for Humanity.
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Dr. Roesner, who joined the CSU faculty in 1999 after leaving Camp Dresser and McKee Inc., is a nationally recognized expert in the development and application of hydrologic, hydraulic and water quality simulation models. He teaches several undergraduate courses, including Senior Design, where he passes on his love of hands-on learning each semester to his students. Dr. Roesner also teaches several graduate courses including urban water management and storm water management, and holds the Harold Short Endowed Chair in Civil Engineering Infrastructure Systems.