Page 2 - 2020 GGE Newsletter

Page 2
GENERAL NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

2020 Faculty Awards:

Alexis Navarre-Sitchler, Associate Professor: Ben L. Fryrear En-
dowed Chair for Innovation and Excellence. Each Fryrear Chair
receives $25,000 in discretionary funds a year for three years in
exchange for driving a strategic initiative or program during
that time that furthers the vision and mission of Mines. The oth-
er sitting Fryrear Chairs are Geoff Brennecka, associate profes-
sor of metallurgical and materials engineering, and Linda Bat-
talora, teaching professor of petroleum engineering
The Fryrear Chair for Innovation and Excellence is an
important engine for change on the Mines campus, and
we are so excited to have Craig and Alexis serve in this leadership role as Mines continues toward its 150th anni
versary in 2024. Both Alexis and Craig are outstanding members of the Mines faculty and part of the reason why
Mines is among the top four engineering schools in the country. They also understand that we cannot rest on our
laurels and are committed to doing their part to create the signature student experience at the heart of our
MINES@150 goals. To learn more about Alexis and Craig’s Fryrear Chair projects, go to https://
www.minesnewsroom.com/news/alexis-navarre-sitchler-craig-brice-named-fryrear-chairs-innovation-and-
excellence.
Piret Plink-Bjorklund, Professor: Promoted to full Professor and Halliburton STEPS Distinguished Speaker

For 2019-2020 STEPS program cycle, the theme is Planet to Pore Modeling, which is currently in action. Past
year themes, projects, and Distinguished Lectures can be found here https://www.ienergy.community/STEPS1.
This year, the first Distinguished Lecture was given by Halliburton Fellow Dr. Jeffrey Yarus on 08/29, and the
2nd one was held on 10/17 by Professor Martin Blunt from Imperial College. We are proud to announce that
the 3rd will be held at Colorado School of Mines and given by Dr. Piret Plink-Björklund.
Thomas Monecke, Professor: Promoted to full Professor

Bruce Trudgill, Associate Professor: Awarded the Class of 2020 Outstanding Faculty award for GGE
Lesli Wood, Professor and Weimer Distinguished Chair: Received Tenure
Donna Anderson, Affiliate Faculty: AAPG Honorary Member award

Van Tuyl Lecture Series 2020:
In 2020, we hosted eight Van Tuyl Lecture Series speakers of which the last four in the Fall were held virtually. The
Thursday lectures invite the public, are invaluable to the faculty and often act as an extra class for the students. The lec-
tures we hosted in 2020 included: Antonio Arribas from University of Texas at El Paso, John Dilles from Oregon State,
Anthony-Williams-Jones from McGill University, Jane Willenbring from University of California San Diego, Luk Peeters
from CSIRO, Lorena Moscardelli from Equinor, Julie Rowland from the University of Aukland and our Colorado School of
Mines Geology and Geological Engineering Professor Lesli Wood.
For our virtual Spring 2020 Van Tuyl lecture series, we currently have one scheduled speaker so far, John Eichelberger
Geological Society of America Distinguished Lecturer from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Visit https://
geology.mines.edu/events-calendar/lectures/ to learn more!