Dr. Richard Christiansen, a cherished former member of our faculty, passed on November 2, 2025.
An avid learner, Christiansen received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, M.S. in Physics, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. He was passionate about teaching, and students and faculty alike remember him teaching just about every class he could. Dr. Long, a former student of his, remembers, “He was here to teach… not for the honors, not for money, not to be famous.” Those who worked with him remember his devotion both to his wife and nine children, and to his work as an electrical engineer.
When Christiansen first joined our department in 1978, it was not standard for faculty to conduct research. Along with his colleague and friend, Dr. Doug Chabries, his research in speech processing inspired other faculty to begin their own research–something that has continued to this day. Some of the fruits of his research included the development of wiretap-analysis technology for the FBI and the creation of a digital hearing aid with enhanced sound clarity.
Seen by his research, Christiansen had a deep understanding of signal processing, and he introduced many students to the field. Long reflects, “He introduced me to the joys of signal processing… seeing everything from that perspective has influenced me ever since.”
Christiansen cared deeply about his students. He had great expectations for them, and always believed in their ability to succeed, happy to keep his office open for help. Students will remember how Dr. Christiansen’s hands were always covered in chalk from the problems he solved on the board with his classes, and his requirement of using green engineering paper for all homework and tests. At his funeral, his children brought their own notes on engineering paper as a tribute to him.
Even after he stepped back from research, Christiansen continued to teach until his retirement in 2013. Dr. Christiansen left a lasting mark on the Electrical and Computer Engineering community at BYU and abroad, and he will be remembered with gratitude and affection by all those who had the privilege of knowing him.