Industry-oriented faculty keep it real in the classroom
Students in the School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources gain advantage with professionals at the helm.
(Right) The School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources Executive Director Kray Luxbacher, the Gregory H. and Lisa S. Boyce Leadership Chair of Mining and Geological Engineering, brings expertise in mine risk and safety analysis to her courses.
In an industry where mistakes can be costly, even deadly, lessons rooted in real life can make all the difference.
From metallurgy and geomechanics to fieldwork and underground safety, students in the School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources at the University of Arizona are learning from professionals who understand not just processes and procedures but also the very real consequences of decisions.
More than half of the faculty in SMEMR bring significant industry experience into the classroom – one big reason students are highly sought after in the industry.
“You cannot separate theory from practice in mining,” said Selo Ndlovu, mining engineering professor and globally recognized expert in hydrometallurgy and mineral processing. “Our responsibility is to prepare students for the complexity of real operations.”
With more than 25 years of global experience in industry, associate professor of practice Edward Wellman (right), tells students that good engineering begins with observation.
‘Many engineering failures happen because the real problem was misunderstood,’ he says. ‘You have to go into the field, see what’s happening, and document it carefully before you start designing solutions.’
Ndlovu has 20 years of experience bridging academia and industry collaboration. She joined the U of A in 2024 from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and is past president of the Southern Africa Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
“The university's location in the heart of Arizona's rich mining region provides an environment deeply intertwined with industry," she added. “This proximity offers opportunities for real-world applications and collaborations with leading mining companies, not only in research but also practical experience.”
Safety first, always
Assistant professor Bo-Hyun Kim is an expert at improving stability and safety in deep and complex mines. In his rock mechanics class, he drills this core message: Rock is not stable.
“I try to help students see rock as something alive,” said Kim, whose background includes leadership roles in industry and at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. “Rock changes as stress is applied or removed, and many failures happen when we don’t understand how the ground is reacting.”
The 30-year mining engineer stresses a concept he calls “Jenga Mining” – the idea that mine planning and geomechanics must work together.
“Every cut changes the system. When students understand, they start thinking like real engineers,” he said.
Mining junior James Russell had a breakthrough during Kim’s instruction.
“It’s not just about getting the calculation correct,” he said. “It’s about understanding what that decision means for safety and production.”
Russell added that faculty like Kim help students confidently transition from the classroom to the workforce.
“When you know your professor has worked in real mines, you trust the lessons,” he said. “You feel like you’re being trained for the real world.”
Improving operations with automation
Nathalie Risso, assistant professor of mining engineering who brings 10 years of consulting experience, teaches courses on machine learning and power systems.
“My goal has been to solve engineering problems through smarter integration of technology,” she said.
Risso researches how automation and artificial intelligence can reshape mining operations to improve safety. Models can continuously monitor equipment sensors to predict potential failures while also powering self-driving vehicles to navigate hazardous areas.
“Automation changes the role of humans – it does not eliminate it,” Risso said. “The goal is collaboration between humans and technology.”
Mining senior Tyler Bettencourt, president of the university’s SME student chapter, appreciates how exposure to automation in the classroom prepares students for modern operations.
“When professors bring real mine experience into lectures, you start thinking like a professional,” he said. “You’re not just trying to pass a class. You’re thinking about how decisions affect an operation.”
Designing under pressure
Ground mining specialist Samuel Lolon, assistant professor of practice for the U of A San Xavier Mine Laboratory, advises student design teams.
“Every design decision affects real people underground,” said the licensed engineer and project management professional who helped design one of the largest underground projects in Indonesia. “Safety is not a box you check. It’s the center of every decision you make.”
Mining students like senior Marc Armenta learn how to make safety improvements with industry-standard technology at San Xavier’s ventilation labs.
“At San Xavier, you see how everything connects,” Armenta said. “It makes the lessons real.”