Leslie Lamberson, Scott Strong named Fryrear Chairs for Innovation and Excellence
Endowed by Mines alum Ben Fryrear ’62, the chair supports Mines faculty working to further the university’s vision, mission
Leslie Lamberson, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Scott Strong, teaching professor of applied mathematics and statistics, have been awarded the Ben L. Fryrear Endowed Chair for Innovation and Excellence at Colorado School of Mines.
Endowed by Mines alum Ben Fryrear ‘62 in 2017, the chair recognizes and supports highly accomplished Mines faculty members working to further the vision and mission of the university, for a term of three years. Each chair receives $25,000 in discretionary funds to fund their work.
“The Fryrear Chair for Innovation and Excellence plays a key role in driving forward institutional change at Mines,” Provost Rick Holz said. “We are excited to see what Leslie and Scott bring to their tenures as Fryrear chairs and the contributions they will make to continuing Mines’ position as a top engineering school. Both are exceptional members of the faculty and I’m confident they will drive positive developments at Mines in the years to come.”
A Mines alum, Strong plans to focus on the university’s approach to working with generative AI and incorporating similar technology into the student experience.
“Generative AI has the potential to transform education as profoundly as the internet transformed how we access and share knowledge,” Strong said. “As a Fryrear Chair, I’m excited to lead initiatives to help Mines stay at the forefront of the technological evolution while ensuring these tools enhance learning for all students.”
A member of the Mines faculty since 2019, Lamberson will be launching the Integrating Novel Opportunities for Value-Added Training in Engineering (INNOVATE) initiative to transform how Mines students prepare for their futures. The goal of the initiative is to aid students in developing creativity, leadership and innovation skills, helping to prepare them to be visionary leaders who can address complex global challenges with a blend of expertise and entrepreneurial spirit.
“At Mines, we have a unique opportunity to empower our students to go beyond problem-solving and become trailblazers who redefine the future of engineering and innovation,” Lamberson said.
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
