Christopher Bise, Robert E. Murray Chairman of Mining Engineering at West Virginia University, has been name the recipient of the 2014 Robert Stefanko Distinguished Achievement Award in Mineral Engineering from Penn State University. The award, which was established in 1992 to honor the memory of the former Penn State professor recognizes achievements and leadership that enhance the mineral engineering profession.

“I was one of Dr. Stefanko’s last Ph.D. students. I was his last teaching colleague for his Mining 410 class and I took over responsibility for that course for the next 30 years after I received my doctorate,” Bise said. “Dr. Stefanko was a giant in mining engineering education, and an inspiration to everyone who knew him. Receiving this award is significant to me not only because of what it means, but also because of the person it was named after.”

Bise earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in mining engineering from Penn State in 1976 and 1980, respectively. He joined their mining engineering faculty in 1976, rising from instructor to the George H. and Anne B. Deike Chair. Bise, who also has master’s in health science in environmental health engineering from Johns Hopkins University, went on to create and chair the industrial health and safety program at Penn State until 2006, when he accepted his current position at WVU.

The award was presented at the department’s annual awards banquet, held April 25.

-WVU-

mcd/05/02/14

CONTACT: Mary C. Dillon, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
304.293.4086, Mary.Dillon@mail.wvu.edu

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