BROOKINGS – Students who have grown up around fishing and hunting flock to the wildlife and fisheries major at South Dakota State University.

One professor who shares his passion for wildlife biology with students earned honors for his teaching proficiency this spring.

Charles Dieter, professor of natural resource management, received the F.O. Butler Award for Excellence in Teaching Award.

Accord-ing to his peers, Dieter has set a standard of excellence in teaching, advising and mentoring for more than 30 years that impacted not only students, but also the current and future wildlife and fisheries workforce of the state and the nation.

“Teaching is an honor,” Dieter said. “It’s a privilege to work with the many students I’ve had in my classes. It hasn’t been a job for me. Being able to interact with the young people has made teaching an enjoyable experience. I remain friends with many of my former students. I loved all of the time I’ve been at SDSU.”

“Dr. Dieter relates to students in a real way,” said Ben Hanzen, one of Dieter’s students. Hanzen is majoring in wildlife and fisheries sciences.

“He cares about the students. He relates the curriculum to his own field experiences in an easy-to-understand way.”

Dieter’s passion for learning about animals led him to SDSU in 1988, where he has perfected his teaching and mentoring skills.

“Dr. Dieter’s commitment to experiential learning has been a hallmark of his teaching style, and he has positively impacted numerous undergraduate and graduate students under his mentoring,” said Michele Dudash, head of the Department of Natural Resource Management.

“Professor Dieter has given 33 years of service to SDSU, impacting thousands of undergraduate students majoring in wildlife and fisheries sciences and related majors within our department by teaching six core courses.”

Dieter said wildlife and fisheries has always been a popular major within the Department of Natural Resources.

“It is a very competitive field for jobs. We specialize in educating applied biologists. We found that agencies like to hire our students because they have good hands-on training.“

Determined to make classes fun and interesting, Dieter brings animals to class and provides a hands-on experience with skins and skulls. He shows videos of animals students may not see otherwise. The department houses one of the largest mammal collections at a university in the upper Midwest. Specimens from the large mammal collection enhance learning by sharing the characteristics of exotic animals as well as those more common to the area such as bears and coyotes.

When Dieter set up a herpetology class a few years ago, he sought amphibian and reptile specimens for the department’s collection.

“Dieter made the class fun,” Hanzen said. “In South Dakota we don’t run across amphibians or reptiles very often as in other places. I thought the class was unique and really cool.”

Dieter’s dedication rubs off on his students. Sometimes he offers extra credit to students in his animal behavior class when they give presentations to students at the Boys & Girls Club and area schools. The experience enhances student opportunities for public speaking and community involvement. Many found they liked presenting the material, and some become teachers.

Dieter’s mentorship and friendship provided valuable help for Chelsey Loney, who graduated from SDSU in 2011 with a degree in biology. Now a teacher in the Kasson Mantorville (Minn.) school, she reflected on the impact he had on her career.

Loney said he was almost like an SDSU dad who helped her when she struggled to carry 22 credits one semester. Knowing her desire to gain field experience, he worked to make that happen.

“Dr. Dieter encouraged me to get my master’s degree, which I completed last year in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematic) education,” Loney said. “It wasn’t on my radar until he suggested it. He played a big part in that accomplishment.”

Mentoring graduate and doctorate students provides a way for busy instructors to work on research projects. Dieter said it is rewarding to learn from them and to see them complete graduate school and go on to other colleges or work. During his tenure at SDSU, Dieter mentored 38 graduate students, with 12 being in the past five years. His guidance enabled them to work in state and federal wildlife agencies as well as non-governmental organizations.

One example of the research he oversaw focused on the damage caused to soybeans by giant Canada geese that raise their broods in eastern South Dakota. One of the master’s projects focused on the nesting habits of burrowing owls in western South Dakota.

Ranchers and farmers across the state were eager to help with research projects. “I developed friendships with the farmers and landowner when we worked in the field. It was a real pleasure,” Dieter said.

One project involved a trip to Marshall County to put collars on Canada geese for tracking their movement. One collar also helped track a thief.

Dieter said that a farmer in the area had experienced theft of hay bales. They placed one electronic device meant for the geese in a bale. By turning on the device, they tracked the bale when it traveled to North Dakota.

Retirement at the end of the school year means Dieter will have more time for hunting and fishing, which is what drew him to his profession 29 years ago. He’ll spend more time with his wife, kids and grandkids.

“I’ll really miss teaching the students but not the paperwork,” Dieter said.

Dieter’s retirement will leave a void for those taking classes in the department, Hanzen said.

“I had him as a teacher each semester. Students will miss out without his presence in the classroom.”

The Department of Natural Resource Management is hosting a retirement celebration for distinguished professors Chuck Dieter and Carter Johnson from 1-3 p.m. Friday, May 5, in the atrium of the McFadden Biostress Lab on campus.