Strategic Initiatives

Frederic Sarazin is a professor of physics at Colorado School of Mines. His research focuses on nuclear and astroparticle physics, with work spanning low-energy nuclear structure and cosmic ray physics. He participates in large international research collaborations and contributes to both fundamental physics research and applied work, including medical physics and radiotherapy technologies. Sarazin earned advanced degrees in subatomic physics from the University of Caen and GANIL in France. He serves as the head of the Physics Department and the director of Quantum@Mines. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses and mentors students in the physics program.

Alicia Polo y La Borda Cavero has 20 years of experience in the mining industry analyzing mine projects, asset portfolios, business strategies, mining policy and mineral and metal markets. She has a bachelor degree in Economics from the Universidad del Pacifico in Peru, and a graduate degree in Master of Laws (LLM) in Mineral Law & Policy from the Centre of Energy, Petroleum, Minerals, Law & Policy (Cepmlp) – University of Dundee in Scotland.

Jack Bringardner is a Teaching Professor and Director of Education Innovation in Engineering, Design, and Society at Colorado School of Mines. He leads institution-wide efforts to advance students’ entrepreneurial mindset through curriculum innovation.

Bringardner serves as the Mines KEEN Leader and is a principal driver of strategic initiatives that integrate entrepreneurial mindset, authentic experiential learning, and character development across the undergraduate experience. He co-directs the Vertically Integrated Projects for Experiential Research (VIPER) program, expanding sustained, team-based learning opportunities that connect students to meaningful, real-world work. He also plays a central role in faculty development and national engagement, contributing to the Entrepreneurial Mindset in the First Year (EMIFY) initiative, serving on the Executive Steering Committee for the Vertically Integrated Projects Consortium, and actively participating in the American Society for Engineering Education.

Through this work, Bringardner helps position Mines as a national leader in scalable, research-informed approaches to engineering education and curricular innovation.