Professor Ostlie earned his BA degree from St. Olaf College in 1977 and his PhD in theoretical astrophysics from Iowa State University in 1982. Following a two-year position at Bates College, Ostlie went to Weber State University in 1984, where he remained until his retirement in 2014. Along with teaching astronomy, physics, and mathematics courses, Ostlie conducted research in stellar pulsation theory, served as Chair of the Physics Department and Dean of the College of Science. Ostlie also co-authored a highly successful introductory astrophysics textbook with WSU colleague, Bradley W. Carroll, An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, Cambridge University Press, 2nd edition, 2017 (3rd edition in development).
Dale is very fortunate to have a terrific wife, Candy, and two grown children, Michael and Megan. At one point when Michael was still quite young, perhaps 12 years old or so, he was fooling around at the dinner table, and Dale asked him “who’s kid are you anyway?”, to which he responded “I am your son, with whom you are well pleased.” That statement couldn’t have been more true for both of our children.
Emeritus Professor
Having grown up with parents who loved the outdoors, Dale and his siblings developed that love of nature as well. When Dale was fortunate enough to be hired by Weber State University, which sits on the mountainside of Mount Ogden and the Wasatch Front of northern Utah, Dale found himself in a location with hiking right outside of his office, and world-class skiing twenty minutes from home at Snowbasin Resort. During the 2002 Winter Olympics, held in Salt Lake City and the surrounding area, Snowbasin was the site chosen to host the alpine speed events (downhill, super G, and combined), and Dale was selected as a member of the slip crew for the men’s events; a great thrill.
Today, Dale continues to immerse himself in the outdoors. Beginning in late 2018, Dale and Candy sold their home in Utah, put what would fit in their truck camper and the backseat of their truck, and they have been traveling around the United States and Canada ever since, while also working full-time remotely (in Dale’s case, textbook writing). As this page was being written in July 2022, we were in Skagway, Alaska, having driven up the Alaska highway. Among our many adventures of camping, hiking, and cycling, we have had the opportunity to view nature up close, including Dale suddenly looking eye-to-eye with a curious black bear 3 to 4 meters away when it came to investigate the smell of grilling burgers in a secluded campsite. We have also had elk and moose eating one to two meters from our “dining room” window. Being full-time RVers (recreational vehicle) means waking up every day to a new and spectacular backyard from coast to coast, north and south.
The adventures of life continue to unfold.