SME Division Awards

Coal & Energy Division Awards Coal & Energy Division Distinguished Service Award to Ryan M. Murray The Coal & Energy Division Distinguished Service Award is presented to Ryan M. Murray “for his professional accomplishments in coal and energy, dedication to mining engineering education, and sustained leadership in the industry and community.” Ryan M. Murray Murray is president and chief operating officer of Makuria — Oak Grove. He previously served as vice president of operations for Murray Energy Corp. and American Consolidated Natural Resources Inc. Murray Energy Corp. was the largest independent underground producer of coal in the world. Murray managed all operations and facilities for Murray Energy Corp. and Foresight Energy LLP for 13 years. During his 30-year mining career, Murray worked at surface, underground longwall, room and pillar and coal processing operations, among other facilities. His duties have spanned from laborer to chief operating officer. Murray earned his master of business administration from The Ohio State University and a bachelor of science in mining engineering from West Virginia University. He is a recipient of the J.W. Woomer Award, the John T. Boyd Memorial Award, the SMEF Excellence in Prospecting Award, was the first recipient of the SMEF $4k by 40 award and is an SME Fellow. He has served on numerous award committees, was a past SME Foundation trustee and has served on the SME Foundation Executive Committee. Murray has been a member of the Coal & Energy (C&E) Division for more than 25 years and is a past chair of the C&E Division Executive Committee. Stefanko Best Paper Award to Abhishek Kumar Singh, Sahendra Ram and Priyadarshi Onam The Stefanko Best Paper Award is presented to Abhishek Kumar Singh, Sahendra Ram and Priyadarshi Onam for their paper, “Assessment of Impact of Dirt Bands on Coal Pillar Strength at Different Depths of Cover — A Numerical Simulation Study.” Sahendra Ram Singh is pursuing his Ph.D. in mining engineering at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, India, where he serves as president of the SME Student Chapter. He holds a B.Tech in civil engineering (BPUT Odisha), an M.Tech in soil mechanics and foundation engineering (BIT Mesra) and an advanced diploma in structural design and analysis (CTTC Bhubaneswar). He has published several research papers and book chapters, received the Best Paper Award (CSEMM-2022) and Best Poster Award (ICSIMP 2023). Abhishek Kumar Singh Ram is an assistant professor in the Department of Mining Engineering at the NIT Rourkela, where he has been serving since 2020. He earned his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, India. Prior to joining NIT Rourkela, Ram gained more than 21 years of research experience at the CSIR–Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR), Dhanbad. He has published more than 78 papers in SCI- and Scopus-indexed journals and conference proceedings and holds two patents related to underground structure design. Priyadarshi Onam Onam is currently a Ph.D. research scholar under Ram’s guidance in the Department of Mining Engineering, NIT Rourkela, India. He holds an M.Tech in geotechnical engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi. His research focuses on rock mechanics and numerical modeling in underground coal mines. J.W. Woomer Young Engineer Award to Tyler B. Faulkner The J.W. Woomer Young Engineer Award is presented to Tyler B. Faulkner “for his dedication to the education and professional development of mining engineers, and his promotion of rigorous and ethical modern mine design.” Tyler B. Faulkner Faulkner works in sales and support for Carlson Software’s Mining Division. He has been with Carlson since 2014, and in that time has provided technical support to hundreds of engineers, geologists, surveyors and students working across a variety of mineral deposits. He obtained his B.S. in mining and minerals engineering from Virginia Tech in 2014 and his P.E. certification in Kentucky in 2020. He is a past chair of the Central Appalachian Section and currently serves as a co-chair for the SME/NSSGA Student Design Competition. Environmental Division Awards Environmental Division Distinguished Service Award to Andrea Martin The Environmental Division Distinguished Service Award is presented to Andrea Martin with the citation “for your work nationally and locally, and for your contributions to the mining industry, SME and the Environmental Division. Your can-do attitude has made a positive difference!” Andrea Martin Martin is a Michigan Tech chemical engineer working in the environmental arena on mining projects in the upper Midwest for 20 years. Permitting, compliance and regulatory agency relationships have been the focus of her work. She has enjoyed committee work with SME for 15 years including a tour through the Environmental Division Executive Committee, the Sustainable Education Committee and is ending a term as chair of the Government & Public Affairs Committee. Martin is a Professional Engineer, an SME Registered Member and owns her own consulting firm. Environmental Division Benefactor Award to Liane George The Environmental Division Benefactor Award is presented to Liane George with the citation “for your continued dedication to the scholarship program and your generous personal donations to the Silent Auction.” Liane George George works with Piteau Associates, a subsidiary of Tetra Tech Inc., a global consulting firm providing water management, geotechnical and environmental services to the mining industry. Based in her home office in Colorado Springs, CO, she brings 20 years of expertise in geology, geological engineering, surface water hydrology and hydrogeology. She is a registered Professional Geologist in Utah and Professional Engineer in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Minnesota and Utah. George has extensive experience creating comprehensive site-wide and facility-specific water balances for the mining industry. She analyzes complex data sets to develop analytical and numerical models of surface water and groundwater flow and storage. Her work supports clients navigating site-specific water management challenges and optimizing their water inventory. She has been volunteering with the Environmental Division since 2009. Environmental Division Stewardship Distinguished Service Award to Lisa Kirk The Environmental Division Stewardship Distinguised Service Award is presented to to Lisa Kirk “for contributions through her work and research to advance the understanding of biogeochemistry and environmental geochemistry of mined materials.” Lisa Kirk Kirk is principal biogeochemist and manager of Enviromin, a division of RESPEC, which specializes in microbial and environmental geochemistry and its application to mine waste and water management. Her expertise lies in the aqueous and biogeochemistry of mined materials, and their evaluation throughout the mine life cycle. Kirk also has expertise in assessment, fate and transport, and management of acid rock drainage and metal release potential, as well as geochemical modeling of rock-water interactions and prediction of mine water chemistry. She specializes in the biogeochemistry and design of in situ water treatment bioreactors, such as saturated rock fills, focused on the management of nitrate, selenium, arsenic, mercury and sulfur. Kirk has completed environmental biogeochemistry investigations and water management projects throughout the United States, and in Canada and South America. Kirk also serves as affiliate professor in the Montana State University Chemical and Biological Engineering Department. Health & Safety Division Awards Individual Excellence Award to Emily J. Haas The Health & Safety Division Individual Excellence Award is presented to Emily J. Haas, Ph.D. “for transformative leadership, innovative research, and unwavering dedication to advancing health and safety in mining and allied industries, protecting workers and shaping safer futures.” Emily J. Haas Haas is a recognized leader with more than a decade of experience advancing occupational safety and health (OSH) across industries. As a behavioral and implementation science expert, she has pioneered approaches that integrate human factors and engineering design to improve technology adoption, safety culture and risk reduction. Her applied research has shaped national standards, improved injury prevention programs and strengthened organizational resilience. Haas has authored more than 120 publications, delivered more than 150 technical presentations and led major initiatives within the SME, including the Mine Safety and Health Handbook update in 2024. In her current role, she actively mentors and develops emerging OSH professionals, fostering the next generation of safety leaders through coaching and collaboration. Her impact has been recognized through numerous honors, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the Arthur S. Flemming Award, and selection as one of the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining. Research and Educational Excellence Award to William Pratt Rogers The Health & Safety Division Research and Educational Excellence Award is presented to William Pratt Rogers for “establishing a career that intersects innovative research, practical applications, and advocacy in health and safety within the mining industry.” William Pratt Rogers Rogers is a mining professional with extensive business and research experience in sociotechnical systems, big data analysis, mining technology and safety and health management systems. He is an assistant professor at the University of Utah’s (U of U) Mining Engineering Department. His research interests concentrate on the reliability of sociotechnical systems deployed in mining organizations and applications of big data analysis. Improved management of the sociotechnical bottlenecks will allow companies to operationalize technology more successfully, improve data utilization, and operate more efficiently. Prior to U of U, he was vice president of product development at MISOM Technologies. Rogers earned his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona by exploring the prevalent data utilization gap within all mining companies. Industrial Minerals & Aggregates Division Awards A. Frank Alsobrook Distinguished Service Award to David W. Bieber The A. Frank Alsobrook Distinguished Service Award is presented to David W. Bieber in recognition of his “continued exemplary service to the Industrial Minerals & Aggregates Division and the Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.” David W. Bieber Bieber is a Colorado-based geological, environmental and mining consultant, with more than 45 years of experience in the mining, petroleum, environmental and engineering fields. He is an adjunct professor of mining engineering at the Colorado School of Mines and is retired as the manager of geology and survey for the west division of Martin Marietta. Bieber received his undergraduate geology education from Colorado School of Mines, and his master’s degree in geology from University of Colorado. He is a Licensed Professional Geologist and Geophysicist, and a Certified Professional Geologist, Engineering Geologist and Hydrogeologist. Bieber is a past chair of the SME Colorado Section, past president of the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists, served on the executive committee of the American Geosciences Institute, served on the SME Industrial Minerals & Aggregates Division(IM&AD) Executive Committee and chaired the SME Workforce Strategic Committee. He actively advocates for mining, leading field trips and presenting to student, government and civic groups. Industrial Minerals & Aggregates Division Outstanding Young Scientist Award to Dongbo An The Industrial Minerals & Aggregates Division (IM&AD) Outstanding Young Scientist Award is presented to Dongbo An “for pioneering innovations in rare earth mineral processing, leadership in sustainable metallurgy, and transformative contributions to U.S. critical materials production.” Dongbo An Currently lead metallurgy engineer at MP Materials, An oversees metallurgical operations at the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine in California. His work is driven by a strong commitment to sustainability, innovation and maximizing resource efficiency. An holds a Ph.D. in mineral processing from the University of Arizona. His doctoral research focused on optimizing rare earth flotation at Mountain Pass, where he developed a novel reagent scheme that improved recovery and reduced operational temperatures. An started his professional career as a metallurgist at Freeport-McMoran. In 2020, An returned to his rare earth roots by joining MP Materials. Since then, he has played a pivotal role in scaling up operations and advancing cutting-edge mineral processing technologies. He has built and led a team of metallurgists and technicians, contributing to record-breaking production achievements through improvements in both recovery and concentrate grade. Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division Awards Antoine M. Gaudin Award to Jan Cilliers The Antoine M. Gaudin Award is presented to Jan Cilliers “for contributions in development and application of methods for tracking, characterizing and modeling particle motion and separation in classifiers and froth flotation processing equipment.” Jan Cilliers Cilliers is professor of mineral processing at Imperial College London. His flotation research team pioneered the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of flowing froths, and extracted equations for water recovery, entrainment and froth recovery. The research team also advanced methods in image processing, electrical resistance tomography, positron emission particle tracking, and micro-CT, and used 3D printing to rapidly prototype novel hydrocyclones. Cilliers’ current research explores techniques for waterless mineral processing and lunar mining.Cilliers is a director and co-founder of Metcelerate, an online program to upskill graduate minerals engineers in the practical application of mineral processing principles. He serves on the International Mineral Processing Council (IMPC) and previously chaired its Commission on Education. In 2010 he was elected a Fellow of the UK Royal Academy of Engineering. Milton E. Wadsworth Award to Ronel Kappes The Milton E. Wadsworth Award is presented to Ronel Kappes “for her commitment to the development and transfer of flotation technology from theory to effective commercial practice for precious metals recovery worldwide.” Ronel Kappes Kappes is director, advisory to the Chief Technology Officer at Newmont Mining Corp. Previously, she held a variety of technical metallurgical roles with Newmont’s Processing and Metallurgy Technical Services team. She has extensive flotation development experience in a variety of commodities, including copper, gold, platinum-group metals, molybdenum, lead and zinc. Kappes is presently the executive editor for the SME journal, Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. She was recently awarded the SME President’s Citation Award, and designated as an SME Fellow, class of 2025. She received the inaugural Cindy Moore Courageous Impact Award in 2024. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Potchefstroom University, South Africa and a Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering from the University of Utah. She is a qualified professional member of the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America (MMSA) and is a member of the board of directors of AMIRA and the International Mineral Processing Council. MPD Outstanding Young Engineer Award to Fangyu Liu The Minerals & Metallurgical Division (MPD) Outstanding Young Engineer Award is presented to Fangyu Liu “for his enthusiasm, initiative, and can-do attitude, backed by a strong sense of responsibility in following through to successfully completing all the projects he takes on.” Fangyu Liu Liu is a senior process engineer at Hatch Ltd. He earned his Ph.D. degree in metallurgical and materials engineering from Colorado School of Mines with research focus on the electroreduction of rare earth elements in the molten fluoride system. His academic and engineering background involves hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, electrochemistry, recycling and mineral processing with a recent focus on critical metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, rare earths, manganese and copper. Liu has worked on greenfield and brownfield studies and projects in the United States, Canada, Chile, Sweden and Australia in various roles: process metallurgist, subject-matter expert, process lead and project manager, and technology development project lead. He is a Professional Engineer in metallurgical engineering registered in Nevada and Ontario, Canada, and a Qualified Professional member of the Mining & Metallurgical Society of America (MMSA). Liu leads the Salt Lake City hydrometallurgy process team for Hatch in Utah. Arthur F. Taggart Award to Sunil Tripathy The Arthur F. Taggart Award is presented to Sunil Tripathy for his paper titled, “Development of Cold-Bonded Coke Briquettes for Ferrochrome Production in Submerged Arc Furnace,” coauthored with Sovan Kumar Petra, Pankaj Kumar, Nilamadhaba Sahu, Gajanan U. Kapure and Satyakam Yadav. Tripathy is a senior research scientist at the Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota. Currently, he is involved in projects relevant to beneficiation and extractive metallurgy in energy efficiency and sustainability, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Defense, Minnesota State Department of Commerce and industry. With more than 17 years of experience across India, France and the United States, his research focuses on the beneficiation of different ore minerals as well as on waste valorization. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and delivered 40 presentations at international conferences. Tripathy holds eight granted patents, with eight more filed, underscoring his contributions to processing technologies for industrial minerals. He serves on the editorial boards of several journals: Mining Metallurgy & Exploration, Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy, Minerals, Materials, High-Temperature Materials and Processes, Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy and International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. Mining & Exploration Division Awards Mining & Exploration Division Distinguished Service Award to James D. Humphrey The Mining & Exploration Division Distinguished Service Award is presented to James D. Humphrey, P.E. with the citation: “In recognition of Jim Humphrey’s sustained commitment to the M&E Division through his volunteer leadership and technical contributions.” James D. Humphrey Humphrey is a mining engineer (MS&T ’79) and a member of SME for more than 45 years. He is an SME Fellow and a Registered Member. Humphrey has served on the Mining & Exploration (M&E) Executive Committee and was a director on the SME Foundation Board of Trustees. He has been a member of both the Financial and Outreach Strategic committees. He has contributed four chapters in several SME textbooks. Humphrey has been a significant contributor to technical programs, serving as SME Technical Program Chair as well as the M&E Division Program Chair. Humphrey has worked for both mining companies and manufacturers in operations management, technical and marketing roles. His primary area of expertise is in large surface mining operations and equipment. His recent work in the development of autonomous haulage led to 14 patents and multiple additional patent filings. For this work, Humprey is the only individual ever awarded the SME Robert E. Murray Innovation Award. Ben F. Dickerson III Award to Joseph M. Driscoll The Ben F. Dickerson III Award is presented to Joseph M. Driscoll with the citation “for your leadership and volunteerism to our industry through your ability to bring people together with your honesty, integrity and good humor.” Joseph M. Driscoll Driscoll has 38 years of progressive responsibility in the mining industry and was instrumental in the success and start-up of 17 major mines in the Western United States for Barrick, Newmont, Great Basin Gold, Jerritt Canyon Mines and Stillwater Mining. Driscoll’s expertise is in underground and surface mining operations, having worked on global world-class deposits, and for the last 10 years in consulting roles for Amec, ERM, Golder Associates and AECOM. Driscoll is a mining engineer from Montana Tech and a Distinguished Fellow of SME. He served two times on the SME Board of Directors, Montana Tech Mining Advisory Board, Colorado School of Mines Advisory Board and the National Mining Hall of Fame Board. Driscoll was the recipient of the Nevada Mining Association Manager of the Year Award in 2003 and 2009 as well as the Distinguished Alumni Award from Montana Tech. Harry M. Parker Excellence Award to R. Mohan Srivastava The Harry M. Parker Excellence Award is presented to R. Mohan “Mo” Srivastava “for outstanding communication of geostatistical and spatial statistical concepts used in the estimation processes supporting resource and reserve estimation and significant career contributions to geosciences.” R. Mohan Srivastava Srivastava is a geologist and geostatistician whose 45-year career spans work in producing mining companies, in junior exploration and development companies, and as a consultant. He has written many technical articles and book chapters on geostatistics, including An Introduction to Applied Geostatistics, a widely used textbook. His contributions to the mining industry run from exploration through to operations and production planning. He has advised companies on public disclosure, worked on due-diligence review teams for mergers and acquisitions, and served as an expert witness in litigation and arbitration. Srivastava’s resource and reserve estimation experience includes precious and base metals, industrial minerals and energy fuels throughout the world. Outside the mining industry, he is best known for having “broken the lottery code,” being able to sort winners from losers without scratching anything off the face of the card. Outstanding Young Professional Award to Emily Rose The Outstanding Young Professional Award is presented to Emily Rose “for outstanding leadership and participation with SME and the Mining & Exploration Division.” Emily Rose Rose has 10 years of experience in the mining industry and has been a SME member since 2015, and a Registered Member since 2024. She earned her bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from the University of Mississippi and her master’s in mining engineering from Montana Tech. Rose specializes in large-scale slope stability analyses and instability mitigation, geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring, characterization of rock and soil materials, and subsurface site investigations. Currently, she is a mining geotechnical engineer at Barr Engineering Co. focusing on project management for mining and geomechanics-based projects. For SME, she has held roles in the Young Leader’s Committee, Student Member Affairs Committee, and the M&E Division Executive Committee. In addition to her involvement in SME, Rose is a founding member of the Women in Mining (WIM) Utah Chapter and currently serves as the corresponding secretary for WIM USA. Miner of the Year Award to Shawn G. Wilczynski The Miner of the Year Award is presented to Shawn G. Wilczynski “for over 25 years of service and dedication to his community and the safety of miners.” 20Shawn Wilczynski Wilczynski is a third-generation miner from Lead, SD, and a proud U.S. Navy veteran, having served six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from South Dakota Mines in 1997 and began his career at an underground gold mine in Nevada.Wilczynski joined Cargill in 1999, drawn by the company’s strong alignment with his values of safety, people, and integrity. His commitment to continuous learning allowed him to gain experience at all three of Cargill’s underground salt mines. Since 2013, Wilczynski has served as mine manager at Cargill’s Cayuga Mine in central New York. He is deeply involved in his community and has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations. Robert M. Peele Memorial Award to Mayra Casas Azañero The Robert M. Peele Memorial Award is presented to Mayra Casas Azañero for her paper “Use of Aster Satellite Images to Identify Ore-Bearing Hydrothermal Alteration Zones Within Asuncion and Cospan Districts,” presented at the MINEXCHANGE 2025 SME Annual Conference & Expo in Denver, CO. Mayra Casas Azañero Casas Azañero is studying geological engineering at the National University of Cajamarca. She has experience in geology, geological modeling, machine learning and student leadership. She has knowledge in the use of specialized softwares such as ArcGIS, ENVI, LeapFrog Geo and Excel at an advanced level and mastery of intermediate english (spoken and written). She was awarded a scholarship in the Umalliq Warmi 2024 program and the Robert L. Bates Memorial Scholarship 2025. The Rock Mechanics Award to Jamal Rostami The Rock Mechanics Award is presented to Jamal Rostami “for pioneering contributions to rock mechanics, developing globally adopted solutions and innovative excavation technologies that significantly advanced mining safety and efficiency.” Jamal Rostami Rostami received his B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. in mining engineering from University of Tehran (UT) and Colorado School of Mines (CSM) in 1987, 1992 and 1997, respectively. He has been a faculty at UT, Pennsylvania State University and CSM, and worked full time as a consultant from 2003 to 2007. He is currently the Tim Haddon/Alacer Gold Endowed Chair and director of the Earth Mechanics Institute, and professor of the Mining Engineering Department at CSM. Rostami has been a member of SME since 1985 and served on many committees, currently as vice chair of the Education Sustainability Committee. He received the Stephen McCann Memorial Educational Excellence Award from PCMIA in 2015 and the SME UCA Outstanding Educator Award in 2022. WAAIME Division Award WAAIME Founders Award to Iris Whinnen-Owen The WAAIME Founders Award is presented to Iris Whinnen-Owen. A dedicated member since 1972, Whinnen-Owen has been a driving force behind WAAIME’s evolution and enduring legacy. Her visionary leadership during the merger with SME ensured WAAIME’s values and mission would thrive for future generations. As WAAIME Chair, mentor and advocate for students in extractive industries, Whinnen-Owen has shaped the organization through decades of service, strategic insight, and unwavering commitment. Her historical knowledge, candor and passion for WAAIME make her a truly deserving recipient of the 2025 Founders Award. Iris Whinnen-Owen Whinnen-Owen has been a cornerstone of WAAIME for more than five decades. Joining in 1972, she witnessed the organization’s scholarship portfolio flourish while navigating challenges in membership sustainability. In the early 2000s, Whinnen-Owen demonstrated bold leadership as WAAIME President by guiding members through a pivotal decision: merging with SME to secure WAAIME’s future. Her persistence and strategic vision ensured the merger preserved WAAIME’s independence, scholarship funds and legacy, culminating in the successful integration as an SME Division in 2008. Beyond governance, Whinnen-Owen has remained deeply engaged with WAAIME. Her commitment inspired the creation of the Iris Owen Fund, dedicated to helping students in urgent need. Known for her candor, advocacy and unwavering dedication to advancing students in extractive industries, Whinnen-Owen embodies the spirit and resilience of WAAIME.

SME Division Awards

To view the past issues of the UCA magazine you must be a member of SME/UCA.

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From sessions to strategy: Revealing long-term and emerging innovation trends in data analytics, intelligent systems and automation

Mining education gets federal boost as industry faces workforce crunch

Critical minerals management on the federal seabed

To view the past issues of the UCA magazine you must be a member of SME/UCA.

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