Emily Sarver named president of the Society of Mining Professors
Professor Emily Sarver, the Stonie Barker Professor of Mining and Minerals Engineering at Virginia Tech and adjunct faculty member in the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been named President of the Society of Mining Professors (SOMP).
Sarver was named to the presidency at the conclusion of the society's 2025 meeting, which was hosted by RWTH Aachen University in Germany.
"When SOMP welcomed me as a new member in 2012, I could not have imagined what a special community I was joining,” said Sarver. “It has become my professional home — a network of exceptional people who share a passion for mining and minerals education and, as importantly, a passion for collaboration across institutions and borders."
An international organization with members from more than 40 countries and 150 institutions worldwide and roots reaching back to the 18th century, the Society of Mining Professors makes significant contributions to the future of the mining, minerals, and energy disciplines. Its main goal is to guarantee the scientific, technical, academic, and professional knowledge required to ensure a sustainable supply of minerals for people. It does this by facilitating information exchange, research and teaching partnerships, and other collaborative activities among its members.
About Sarver
Sarver received her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech and has been a member of the Virginia Tech faculty since 2011. She has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on more than 20 projects, totaling over $9 million in funding with a personal share of nearly $6 million from federal agencies, industry, and private sources.
She is internationally recognized as an expert in respirable mine dust characterization and monitoring and has served on national and international advisory committees, including for a study convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Sarver has guided nearly 30 graduate students across three departments to successful degree completion, publishing with all of them. She has mentored a similar number of undergraduate researchers and five postdoctoral associates.
Her work has earned the College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence; the Research and Educational Excellence Award from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration's Health and Safety Division; the Tim Shaw Teaching Award from the Society of Mining Professors; and recognition from the United Nations-affiliated Sustainable Development Solutions Network, among others.
Annual meeting will come to Blacksburg
As its new president, Sarver is organizing the society's 36th annual general meeting to be hosted by Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in July 2026.
"We cannot wait to welcome all SOMP members and friends to our thriving campus, where mining and minerals engineering is solidly a part of legacy, present and future," said Sarver. She said the program will feature professional development workshops, teaching showcases, and collaboration highlights along with an off-campus excursion and regional mine site visits.
The theme for the 2026 meeting is "Leading Together."
“At our home institutions, we lead by shaping future professionals, pioneering innovation, and engaging across sectors,” said Sarver. “And through SOMP we leverage our collective strengths and vision to solve big problems, identify new opportunities, and push the field forward.”
The Society of Mining Professors' annual general meeting at Virginia Tech represents an important moment for both the university and the broader mining education community, Sarver said. As the minerals sector navigates a defining paradox — meeting surging demand while elevating environmental and social responsibility — the gathering of academic leaders in Blacksburg will provide a forum for discussing the future of mining education and research.
“Our community here really focuses on leadership and collaboration,” said Aaron Noble, professor and department head of Virginia Tech mining and minerals engineering, “Whether it’s joint research, student mentoring, or partnerships with industry and government, we’ve proven time and again that meaningful collaboration drives impact.”
