Meet the President
Paul C. Johnson is the 17th President of Colorado School of Mines, in Golden, Colorado. MINES is world-renowned for producing highly sought-after scientists and engineers, innovations and objective analyses, especially in fields relevant to earth, energy and the environment. MINES enrolls about 6,000 students, offers nearly 50 degree programs, and conducts more than $60 million of research projects annually for industry and governmental agencies.
Mines Mission
Our STEM-focused education and research produce the talent, knowledge and solutions to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future. It’s the mission Mines was founded on 150 years ago and where we continue to excel today. We’re a community of innovative leaders and resilient problem-solvers who revel in challenges and work together in order to engineer solutions on Earth and beyond.
Nearing 150
With 2024 in sight, we’re making great progress on the Mines@150 plan.
Student Awards
- Grad students win $500K in NASA’s Watts on the Moon Centennial Challenge
Chris Tolton and Ken Liang, who also founded space startup Orbital Mining Corp., developed power storage and transmission solutions for lunar exploration. - Mines grad student to conduct DOE research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Physics PhD student Drew Marino will be working with the world’s top expert in Superconducting Tunnel Junction detectors. - Mines students win first place at ASCE Timber-Strong Design Build Competition
“We got to see (the building) go from a sketch on notebook paper to the real thing,” said Lindsey Nenne, one of the team’s construction leaders, who graduated in May with her bachelor’s degree in civi … - Mines team comes out on top at All in Steel competitions
Colorado School of Mines teams had a great showing at the 2024 All in Steel competitions, taking the top prize in one challenge and runner-up in another.
Faculty Awards
- Kyle Leach wins 2025 Francis M. Pipkin Award
Leach, associate professor of physics, was honored by the American Physical Society - Three Mines faculty members named Fulbright Scholars
Kevin Cash, Juan Lucena and Anuj Chauhan were awarded Fulbright Scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year to research, teach around the world - Kamini Singha selected to 2024 class of AGU Fellows
Singha, professor of geology and geological engineering, is associate dean of Earth and Society programs - Mines researcher receives $1.7M NIH grant to improve understanding of Type 1 diabetes
Dr. Nikki Farnsworth, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, will use biomaterials to mimic the environment of the pancreas and study insulin secretion from pancreatic islets in b …