Chu-Lin Cheng is an Associate Professor with dual-appointment in the School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences and the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. Cheng has interdisciplinary training in natural sciences and engineering.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in Earth Science from National Cheng-Kung University, and his master and doctoral degrees in Environmental Science and Engineering from Iowa State University.  His main teaching and research areas are in Water Resources, Applied Geosciences, and Geo-Environmental Engineering.  Cheng has expanded his academic interests into increasing and improving diversity and inclusion in undergraduate geosciences/STEM education (teaching-&-learning) and workforce development for underrepresented groups through multiple NSF-funded projects.