Chuck Rinkes graduated from Muskingum University in 1991 with a history major and teaching certificates in social studies and special education.
As a student, Rinkes played baseball for two years, until an injury prevented him from continuing.
Rinkes has worked as a special education teacher and a coach for baseball, basketball and golf. He spent five years at Tuslaw High School and one year at Ridgewood Middle School before taking a position at River View High School. Rinkes has served as principal of River View for the last seven years.
In addition to his administrative duties, Rinkes is also the president of the Secondary Principals Association.
Of his education at Muskingum, Rinkes says, “My experiences […] gave me confidence in myself and leadership skills that I lean on each day in working with young people. I came to campus a very naive young man who grew up in the middle of rural [Harrisville] Ohio. My experiences at Muskingum provided me a lot networking opportunities through general students, faculty and especially my fraternity. Many of them are lifelong friends.”
In addition to the friendships he built within his fraternity, Rinkes also met his wife on campus. He says, “I tell students all the time that you are friends in high school mostly because of proximity, but when you go to college you become friends because of similar interests, morals and values.”
Rinkes adds, “Every day I counsel students on college choices; where and why. During that conversation I always have flashbacks to my decision to attend Muskingum. It was a great experience for me to grow and mature, and is still providing me opportunities to advance in my career and life. It is the Muskingum Way...creating opportunities for every student, every day.”
In advising students about college, Rinkes says, “They have to get on campus. They have to feel comfortable with the little things on campus like the hills, the buildings and especially the faculty. We have many faculty members from Muskingum and those conversations help to get kids on campus. But it all comes down to the money. I applaud the administration on slashing the tuition costs and building the campus numbers. The addition of nursing and criminal justice also has helped. The education department has been a big card for many of our students also.”