Strengthening partnerships and building community
When Bill Zisch ’79 became president of the Mines Alumni Board in 2017, he did so not just because of his affinity for the university but also because he saw an opportunity to engage with other alumni in ways that would help elevate Mines’ reputation and ensure future graduates would become industry leaders.
Zisch was in this role leading up to Mines’ 150th anniversary when the university was positioning itself to lead the next century of innovation with new strategic initiatives. He was instrumental in getting alumni on board with those goals.
“It meant stopping and taking time to celebrate the past and the foundation of everything that has come in those 150 years,” he said. It was a way to “take stock of where we are at and what we need to do going forward to continue to build off that very solid foundation.”
His work in bringing the alumni network closer together helped build affinity for the university and highlight the close bonds within the Mines community. “It was really fun to be able to establish new relationships based on that same foundation,” he said.
As board president, Zisch led new initiatives like the establishment of alumni interest groups to connect Orediggers with shared interests and enhance the professional networking opportunities available for alumni and students. These groups also helped showcase Mines’ close relationships with industry and being a preferred partner for private companies and state and federal organizations.
Zisch encouraged alumni to get involved in on-campus opportunities, too, through things like inviting them to share their expertise with students in the classroom, volunteering to help with signature events like the M Climb and judging Capstone projects. He also encouraged alumni to get involved with other Orediggers in their local communities through the M Clubs and Welcome Parties.
Though his term as Mines Alumni Board president is over, he’s not done helping Mines reach its goals. Zisch has stepped into a new role as the first J. Steven Whisler Chair for the Head of Mining Engineering, where he plans to work to maintain Mines’ reputation, increase enrollment and work to “continue to ensure that we put out high-quality graduates that are meeting the needs of what industry is asking us to provide,” he said.
Zisch is focused on supporting an industry faced with the challenge of sustainably securing the critical minerals and materials needed for societal progress. That means making sure future mining engineering graduates have the skills to lead the industry in new and different ways.
“We have an increasing need for minerals to support energy expansion, population growth and the increased standard of living around the world,” he said. “The industry doesn’t just need mining engineers and mineral processing engineers. They need a broad array of cross-functional, interdisciplinary individuals that can help meet the world’s mineral challenges.”
Zisch is also seeing an increased demand from across the university to use the Edgar Experimental Mine in new ways. The Mines-owned underground laboratory is a key classroom and research space for Mines students and faculty. It also enables unique collaborations with industry, state and federal organizations on projects spanning from advanced mining technology to quantum research.
Zisch wants to make sure that the Edgar Mine continues to be used to train and educate students in the mining department while expanding its use by other departments at Mines. In that way, Zisch can continue to support the idea of future mining operations being a cross-disciplinary venture, with Edgar Mine being “optimized to meet the goals of educating students, enriching research and providing a signature student experience.”
Overall, Zisch is focused on helping Mines be a hub for students, alumni and outside partners in government and industry to work together in new ways to move the world forward.
