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Interview with Robert Houghtalen, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE

June 2010

Robert J. Houghtalen, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, is a founding Diplomate and former Professor and Chair of Civil Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He retired early, after 21 years at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, to pursue work in humanitarian efforts in Sudan. Dr. Houghtalen and his wife, Judy, spent the 2007-2008 academic year doing humanitarian work in the Sudan during an educational sabbatical. The experiences and journey the two underwent during the sabbatical led them to make the decision to return to Sudan in December 2009 to pursue their humanitarian work on a full time basis. In early 2009, both Robert and Judy were recognized for their work in Sudan with Rose-Hulman's Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Awards.

Dr. Houghtalen's areas of expertise are hydrology, hydraulics, environmental engineering, nonpoint source pollution/treatment, and groundwater and surface water modeling. Robert's research has included water management simulators (multi-reservoir operation with aggregate state dynamic programming), urban stormwater management, and project-based learning. He introduced client-based, senior design projects at Rose-Hulman in 1988, and expanded that effort to international humanitarian (service learning) projects in 2005. He has been active in continuing education for ASCE for 25 years, teaching classes on the EPA-SWMM model and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers HEC-HMS model. Robert received his Bachelors and Masters in Civil Engineering at North Carolina State University and earned his Ph.D. in Water Resources Engineering at Colorado State University.

Both Robert and Judy are currently in Sudan continuing their humanitarian work, collaborating and working on water projects with a Swedish humanitarian organization, International Aid Services (IAS).

If you would like to stay in touch with the Houghtalens, you may send an email to [email protected]

Where was (most) of your childhood spent?

RH: I grew up in Johnson City (upstate), New York, just north of the Pennsylvania border.

How early on did you know that you wanted to study civil engineering? What were the key factors in your decision to be a civil engineer?

RH: I decided to pursue civil engineering when I was a senior in high school. In looking through college catalogs, the classes listed for civil engineering seemed so interesting.

How did you end up attending N.C. State University and what was the path like for you in your formal education?

RH: When I was a senior in high school, I decided that it would be interesting to attend a college that was in a different part of the country from where I grew up. N.C. State was a good choice; I expanded my cultural horizons and enjoyed my classes (except thermodynamics).

You are one of the founding AAWRE Diplomates of the Inaugural class- how did you hear about the program and what were the main factors in your decision to pursue the D.WRE?

RH: Many years ago, I received an invitation to apply to become a diplomate with AAWRE. It was, as far as I knew, the only specialty certification in the water resources arena. It appealed to me, not only because it represented a terrific credential, but also the fact that it promoted career development through its continuing education requirements for certification.

What types of services or initiatives would you like to see AAWRE pursue?

RH: I appreciate the emphasis AAWRE places on continuing education, professional development, and ethical practice. In addition, continued AAWRE certification recognizes a broad range of activities that contribute to enhanced professional practice. I would like to see the inclusion of humanitarian activities (e.g., Habitat for Humanity, Engineers without Borders, International Non-governmental Organizations, etc.) on the list of approved activities since they contribute greatly to ones professional and ethical development.

Now that you have "officially" retired from teaching at Rose-Hulman after 21 years, how much and what do you miss about teaching and being part of Rose-Hulman?

RH: I really enjoyed teaching at Rose-Hulman, so the decision to leave was "heart-wrenching." Rose-Hulman was highly efficient and effective in its mission. It was a privilege to teach some of the best, brightest, and hardest-working students in America. However, I now have the privilege of working alongside some very bright east Africans (Sudanese, Kenyans, Ugandans) who did not have the same opportunities as my former students. Believe me, I learn as much from them as they do from me.

In looking back over your teaching career, would you share with us about some of the more memorable moments that truly stand out for you?

RH: I taught our client-based, senior design course for almost 20 years at Rose-Hulman. The experience for students was more like an internship than a class. Each year, I was amazed at the quality and professionalism that I saw in their final reports. I was proud to hand them a diploma and send them out into the professional world. However, my most memorable moments often happened outside of the classroom as I got to know some of my students on a personal level. Many of them continue to email me; some of them support our work in the Sudan through their prayers and their generosity.

We know that you and Mrs. Houghtalen - Judy, have moved to Sudan (since this past December) to work and live there indefinitely to assist in humanitarian efforts and aide. Can you share with us how this came about and what were the main factors that led to your life-changing decision?

RH: The people of Sudan are kind, welcoming, and generous. Our sabbatical here in 2007-08 touched us both, but particularly my wife Judy. We both realized we had much to contribute and much to learn about ourselves and the world. Before we left to return to the U.S. after that year, Judy asked me if I would ever come back to Sudan for a more extended commitment. I said no. She asked me if I would pray about it, and I told her I would. We all need to be more careful about what we agree to (smile).

For folks that do not know much about the country of Sudan, can you share on the background of this war-torn African nation?

RH: Sudan is the largest country in Africa (the size of the U.S. east of the Mississippi), located just south of Egypt and just north of Kenya. Civil war has ravaged the country of 40 to 50 million people since their independence from the British in 1956. The country is essentially two countries in one. Southern Sudan is tribal, African, green and well watered by rain; yet desperately poor, uneducated, and lacking infrastructure, health care, and political power. Northern Sudan is all desert (only the Nile River sustains life), Arabic speaking, Islamic in religion, and Middle Eastern in culture. The Sudanese capital is Khartoum, which is located in the north and is a magnet for the country's modest wealth, political power, major universities, and vast unemployed and displaced masses. Significant reserves of oil exist in the south and along the ill-defined north-south border.

The "two Sudans" have been at war for 40 of the last 54 years, which was suspended in 2005 through a comprehensive peace agreement (CPA). However, two years earlier in 2003, the conflict in Darfur (western Sudan) flared up and remains in the world news to this day resulting in 300 to 400 thousand deaths, untold violence, and 2.5 million refugees. Both conflicts (north-south and Darfur), along with other major and minor skirmishes, have produced indescribable suffering for the people of this great nation. The natural consequences of this half century of turmoil are poverty, illiteracy, and damaged or nonexistent infrastructure, including water and sanitation, particularly in remote villages and internally displaced people (IDP) camps.

Under the CPA, the north and the south share profits from the recently discovered oil reserves. The only oil pipeline to the coast is through the north to the Red Sea. The north-south peace agreement will end in January 2011 with a southern referendum on secession. If they vote for independence, which appears likely, the decades-old war may resume.

What are some of the biggest challenges and needs on a daily basis for natives and people living in Sudan?

RH: The people of Sudan are desperately poor. Decades of war have produced numerous refugees and interrupted the education of many people. Education standards are rising, but the employment picture is bleak. Many college educated adults do not have jobs or are under-employed. Some signs of modernization in the larger cities have occurred quickly (it seems like everyone has a cell phone), yet reliable infrastructure is a problem. Power outages are common, stormwater and wastewater collection systems are inadequate, and the road system is not extensive. Conditions in the villages are far worse, and safe and reliable drinking water is a huge concern.

We understand that you are working on water related projects for a Swedish humanitarian organization called International Aid Services (IAS). How did you get involved with this organization and can you tell us more about IAS and its goals?

RH: The mission at IAS is 'to save lives, promote self-reliance and dignity through human transformation, going beyond relief and development.' I met the country director (Leif Zetterlund) in 2007 when I was here on a sabbatical and grew to appreciate him and accomplishments of IAS. They are involved with a number of interventions for the poor and marginalized including education, health, agriculture, peace building, and emergency response. However, their greatest contribution is in the area of water and sanitation. Since 1989, IAS has drilled over 2,000 boreholes in the Sudan which serve over one million people. These boreholes were drilled in desperately poor, remote villages and internally displaced people (IDP) camps, and to supply water for schools and hospitals. Prior to borehole completion, the receiving communities were relying on undependable surface sources of water (i.e., streams or ponds), shallow wells, springs, or surface runoff. Many of these sources were contaminated.

Describe the work you are currently doing and challenges that you and the team(s) face each day/week. What are some things you take away from your experiences?

RH: My duties at IAS change daily. Since December, I have been involved in proposal and report writing, education and training, and engineering. The major report I am writing is entitled “Integrated Water Resource Management” and it highlights the many different intervention techniques that IAS uses to provide clean and safe drinking water in a sustainable manner. I taught a two-day seminar on bio-sand filters in May to our field personnel, other humanitarian agencies, and Sudanese government officials. I am getting involved in the design and construction of small surface reservoirs to harvest rainwater since groundwater levels are declining in some areas. The engineering challenges are not nearly as great as travel, the purchase of equipment and supplies, and obtaining necessary permits from government agencies.

What is a typical day like for you and Judy in Sudan?

RH: Judy and I have relatively normal work days. We are up by 6 am and try to have some quiet and reflective reading and prayer time for an hour or more. We are generally at work by 8:30 am after a 10 minute bus ride. Judy is an accountant, so she tries to negotiate between two separate worlds, a cash-based receiptless society in Sudan answerable to European and American donors who live by elevated accounting standards and results-based assessment. We have Sudanese, Kenyan, and Ugandan co-workers who are capable, kind, and accommodating.

I spend most of my days writing and responding to technical inquiries. Occasionally I get to go to the field offices. The long drives can be tiring, but it puts me in direct contact with the work being accomplished. In the evening, we relax and enjoy dinner, either home-cooked or local fare like fuul (refried beans) or tamia (fried ground chick peas). We often visit Sudanese or ex-patriot friends in the evenings when the temperatures are more tolerable (highs in the summer are 120 to 130, even the winter highs are in the 90s).

You helped oversee the civil engineering department’s (at Rose-Hulman) senior design course since 1988. In 2005, you helped bring the first international capstone project when your son, Jesse, and three other students designed a battered women’s shelter and soup kitchen complex in Trinidad. Other international projects have had your students designing an agricultural training center in Ghana (2006), academic and athletic facilities for Nile Valley Academy in Sudan (2007), and a water supply system for a village in Pakistan and warehouse facilities for the Ghana Cocoa Board (2008).

How important do you think this kind of program is for a civil engineering department’s course and curriculum? How can other schools implement such programs?

RH: The civil engineer of the future is likely to spend part of their career overseas. Even today, it is becoming common for engineers to work on projects in other countries, often in collaboration with foreign companies. The opportunity to work on international projects as a regular part of engineering education will prove to be valuable in this rapidly changing work environment (e.g., The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman).

You once said, “These projects (working abroad on a project in developing countries) should change students” world view and make them better engineers. For me, my work in Sudan and Trinidad has put engineering in a new context. Now, I appreciate the service aspect of engineering.” How do you personally feel that an engineer can learn and benefit from working on a project in a developing country?

RH: A civil engineer working abroad will quickly find out that all the paradigms they are familiar with have been changed. There are different building standards, government regulations, cultural considerations, environmental concerns, communication and travel challenges, and working relationships.

You and Judy were recipients of the Rose-Hulman’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award in 2009, for your work in the Sudan. Among some of the great quotes that Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated is “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' ” Can you share with us your personal philosophy and belief on serving others and how service builds character and leadership?

RH: Spending time in Sudan has helped me to distinguish between needs and wants, and much of what I used to consider a “need” is really a “want.” Like most people, I recognize that having more possessions does not bring lasting joy. But I also realize that it is difficult for me to set aside my selfish interests. Good character requires that we show concern for the interests of others. In my opinion, good character is built on a foundation of faith, and good leadership is dependent upon good character.

What would be your personal pitch or advice to students and others to motivate them to get involved and help in humanitarian projects and work?

RH: Start small. When given the opportunity to work on a humanitarian project, try it. But I think the real change comes when you leave America and visit developing countries, not as a tourist, but as a volunteer. We all have something to contribute. The needs are great, but the rewards are immeasurable.

How and what are some things that Diplomate, water resources engineers can do to help Sudan and other developing countries?

RH: It has been said that water is the oil of the 21st century. I believe it. The energy crisis in the developing world pales in comparison to the water crisis. The expertise of AAWRE Diplomates would be a valuable resource in any developing country.

Any plans to come back to the States currently?

RH: We will probably come back to the U.S. for a few weeks each summer to visit our three sons. Otherwise, we hope to stay here through retirement.

What are some activities and hobbies you like to personally participate in Sudan, for leisure and fun time?

RH: The Sudanese are very social and family-oriented. Sharing a meal, conversing in the cool evening air, or going to weddings, birthday parties, and other family events are common leisure time activities.

Please share with us some of your most memorable moments so far in the Sudan- the one(s) you feel will stay with you for always.

RH: I will share one memory. I was involved in a Bible study with some Darfurian refugees who lived in a squatter’s camp south of Khartoum. After the study, one of the young men walked me to the bus station. He wanted to make sure I got on the correct bus. After being seated, I dug into my pockets for some money to pay the porter. However, my new friend beat me to it and paid my fare. Even though he was one of the fortunate Sudanese refugees that had a job, he only made about $40 per week. The generosity of Sudanese people like him continues to shame me.

What are some of your personal goals and plans for the next year?

RH: My professional goal for our remaining time in Sudan is capacity building. I need to spend more time “showing” and less time “doing.“ I have been blessed with a good education, many years of professional experience, and a wonderful faith and family. It is now time to be generous and to bless others as I have been blessed.

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