With deep gratitude and great enthusiasm, I’m stepping into the role of President of the Society of Mining Professors.

Dear Members,

When SOMP welcomed me as a new member in 2012, I could not have imagined what a special community I was joining. This 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. Working alongside such talented and generous colleagues is so very rewarding. I am humbled by your trust and grateful for the opportunity to serve SOMP in this role.
In the year ahead, our guiding theme will be Leading Together. To me, this means engaging current members more deeply, welcoming new members warmly, and deliberately leveraging our collective talents and energy to support ongoing and emerging collaborations. You’ll find avenues to connect via committees and working groups; co-create resources; pair mentors and mentees; and share new developments and solutions. If you have an idea—or the start of one—please bring it forward. SOMP thrives because its members consistently show up, speak up, and care.

I am really excited to invite you all to the 2026 Annual General Meeting, which will be hosted by the Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering at Virginia Tech. We cannot wait to welcome all SOMP members and friends to our thriving campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, nestled in the beautiful New River Valley. The AGM program will run from July 19 to 22 and will feature professional development workshops, teaching showcases, and collaboration roundtables. For July 23 and 24, we are also planning an off-campus excursion with regional mine site visits. And, we are intentionally creating space across the entire agenda for participants to spark new connections and strengthen the partnerships that make SOMP so effective.

Let’s lead, together.
Yours truly—Glückauf,
 
Emily Sarver
Stonie Barker Professor, Virginia Tech
2026 President, Society of Mining Professors