Shonk Chair for Head of Economics and Business

Engineering a world of possibilities

The Department of Economics and Business at the Colorado School of Mines (Mines) is seeking a visionary and inspirational leader to be the first-ever Shonk Chair for the Head of Economics and Business.

This endowed position was recently established as part of a $5.5M gift from Lowell and Cheryl Shonk. Their endowment yields discretionary funds and graduate fellowships to support strategic initiatives that advance the impact, quality, and reputation of programs in the Department of Economics and Business.

We seek a dynamic and enthusiastic leader who can develop and implement a vision that is aligned with the university’s strategic plan, and that:

• positions our Mineral and Energy Economics program so that it remains highly regarded world-wide and is engaged in the national and international conversations that will set policies and the technical directions for minerals and energy in the future,
• grows enrollment in our recently launched Business Engineering and Management Science bachelor’s degree program,
• increases the accessibility of our Engineering and Technology Management master’s degree to students around the world,
• delivers programming that increases business acumen among all Mines’ students as needed in technical industries and entrepreneurial pursuits, and
• enhances the visibility and impact of Economic and Business outside Mines and outside academia.

Responsibilities

While accomplishing the primary goals discussed above, the Shonk Chair for the Head of Economics and Business is expected to:

• work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment within the Department, with other Mines’ leaders, and with external partners,
• increase alumni and industry engagement and the number of external partnerships, and
• increase external funding and attract philanthropic investments for research and education in economics and business at Mines.

The Shonk Chair for the Head of Economics and Business is also responsible for the following that are expected of every Department Head at Mines:

• oversee management of the Department, so that it delivers on its education and research mission and makes best use of its resources.
• ensure alignment of the department with the university’s strategic plan.
• encourage, promote and support continued professional growth of faculty and staff.
• oversee recruitment and retention of excellent faculty, staff, and students.
• administer and lead the renewal of curricular and teaching activities.
• represent the Department to the university administration, other university units, industry, and to public and private agencies at the local, regional, national, and international levels, and
• lead fund-raising, budget preparation, and management.

In addition, Department Heads at Mines are active in classroom instruction, graduate student mentoring, and they maintain active research programs.

For further information about the position or the Department vision, please contact Prof. Dean Nieusma (search chair) at nieusma@mines.edu

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned Ph.D. in Economics, Mineral Economics, Management Science, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, or any field related to the degree programs and courses offered by the Department of Economics and Business.
• Proven record of accomplishment in research, education and service that meet the criteria for appointment at the rank of Professor at Mines. 
• Academic administrative experience including budget oversight and evidence of successful personnel and financial management.
• Experience collaborating in interdisciplinary academic and professional contexts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Inspiring leadership, enthusiasm, effective interpersonal communication, and organizational skills.
• High ethical standards and ability to operate in a transparent and collegial way.
• Ability to be responsive to the needs of the faculty, staff, and students within the Department.
• Experience balancing teaching, research, and administrative duties; specific experience with prioritization and balancing competing priorities that are typical in a leadership role.
• Experience mentoring faculty and staff, including faculty and/or employee development and growth.

University and Department Description

Mines’ location in the Denver/Boulder metropolitan area provides opportunities for collaborations with colleagues at other universities, in industry and at multiple government labs such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Golden, or the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder. Annual external research funding is approximately $95 million. The school's small size makes it easy for faculty to form collaborations with others across campus.

The Department of Economics and Business delivers three degree programs that currently enroll 265 students, including the MS and PhD in Mineral and Energy Economics, MS in Engineering and Technology Management, and BS in Business Engineering and Management Science. Department faculty are also active in key undergraduate core courses and support professional development of graduate and undergraduate students through other courses and co-curricular activities. The Department supports Mines efforts in entrepreneurship and innovation through collaborations with the McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Beck Venture Center, and the Mines Venture Fund. Faculty and students in Mineral and Energy Economics support the work of the Payne Institute for Public Policy. The Department is also engaged in interdisciplinary graduate programs in Operations Research with Engineering, Space Resources, Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage, and Data Science.

The Department of Economics and Business currently has 16.5 full-time equivalent faculty including 6 tenured/tenure track faculty, 7 teaching faculty, and 5 professors of practice (2 full-time and 3 half-time). The Department of Economics and Business also has 2 full-time staff. The Department has an extensive portfolio of research on critical minerals, energy markets, economy-wide modeling of energy and environmental policy, property rights for natural resources, regional impacts of energy development, and the economic impacts of climate change.  The Department’s research is funded by government agencies, foundations, and industry including DOE, EPA, NSF, DARPA, the Sloan Foundation, and Google. For more information about the Department of Economics and Business, visit https://econbus.mines.edu/. 

Mines produces industry-ready scientists and engineers known for their work ethic, problem-solving ability and teamwork focus.  Mines graduates are in great demand by industry and government entities around the world and are involved in solving major technical and societal challenges of our times. Top industries for Mines graduates include aerospace, energy, infrastructure, and IT. We have several initiatives aimed at enhancing teaching and the student experience, including our exceptional Trefny Innovative Instruction Center, which supports best practices for teaching and learning on campus https://trefnycenter.mines.edu/).  

Equal Opportunity 

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequity or concerns for safety. 

Annual Rate 

$145,000 - $226,000

Total annual compensation includes an academic base salary benchmarked to faculty salaries in the department and qualifications, a Department Head stipend, and additional supplemental pay for summer work. Endowed professors are also provided annual discretionary research funds.

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees. 

In addition to the amazing benefits mentioned below, Mines continues to show its dedication to its employees by offering an 11% employee contribution through our Mines Defined Contribution Plan and an incredible 12% employer contribution with immediate 100% vesting for our Administrative Faculty positions!

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees.

For this role, that includes: 

• Flexible health and dental care options 
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution 
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents) 
• Free RTD Ecopass 

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state-of-the-art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits. 

How to Apply 

Interested applicants should apply online as soon as possible. For full consideration, applications should be received by July 1, 2025. Applications will continue to be considered until the position is filled. References will not be collected or contacted until later in the selection process and the candidate will be informed before that contact is made.

The application must include: 

• a cover letter expressing interest in the position,
• a curriculum vitae,
• a vision statement specifically focused on economics and business education and research at Colorado School of Mines,
• a statement of research, and a teaching statement.

*All requested statements should be three pages or less.

Contact Dorie Gelber, Human Resources, at dorie.gelber@mines.edu with any questions about this opportunity. 

Background Investigation Required Prior to Start

Accommodations - It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities to promote diversity and inclusion at Mines. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment. 

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance. 

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