Karl Lillquist
 | Professor, Geography Department Dean Hall 319 Phone: (509) 963-1184 Email: lillquis@cwu.edu |
Karl is a physical geographer who has been a faculty member at Central Washington University since Fall 1995. Prior to coming to CWU he was an assistant professor of geography at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa from 1993-95. This is a homecoming of sorts for Karl as he earned undergraduate degrees in Geography and Geology here in the mid-1980's.
Karl's first academic love is physical geography field study. His upbringing in Coulee City, WA probably played a big part in this love. "I grew up amidst the Channeled Scablands of eastern Washington. My parent's house was situated on a late Pleistocene flood scoured basalt surface, and I grew up recreating in this unique landscape. Also, I spent my summers picking rocks (i.e., glacial erratics) from wheat fields located behind the terminus of the Okanogan Lobe of the Cordilleran Icesheet". He teaches physical geography, geomorphology, soils, airphoto analysis, mountain environments, arid lands, and graduate research. Karl's current research is focused on environmental change in the mountains and deserts of the western U.S. with an emphasis on using geomorphology and stratigraphy to better understand mass wasting, glaciers, glacial lakes, rock glaciers, and arroyos.
Karl's spouse Nancy is also a Geography alumnus (1983) and they have sons–Erik and Jensen. In his spare time, Karl enjoys most human-powered outdoor activities (including hiking, backpacking, bicycling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and rock rolling), watching his boys’ athletic events, making compost for Nancy's garden, doing home improvement projects, and yard saling.
Education
- PhD. Geography. University of Utah. Summer 1994.
- Non-degree Program. Juneau Icefield Research Program. University of Idaho. Summer 1990.
- M.S. Geography. Portland State University. Spring 1989.
- B.A. Geology. Central Washington University. Spring 1985.
- B.A. Geography. Central Washington University. Spring 1984
Teaching
Students
Research
Service
Geography
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