The University of Arizona’s Department of Mining and Geological Engineering is set to benefit from a significant boost, thanks to a $1.5 million donation from alumni Tim and Rhonda Snider. This generous endowment is poised to enhance educational opportunities for students and propel faculty research, reinforcing the university’s pivotal role in advancing sustainable mining practices.
The newly established Timothy and Rhonda Snider Endowment Fund arrives at a crucial time when sustainable mining and securing domestic supply chains are high on the national agenda. “This gift reflects a shared vision for the future of mining – one that demands technical excellence, workforce development, and a deep commitment to sustainability,” remarked Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships. Arizona’s strong position in the mining sector is expected to translate expertise into substantial impacts statewide and beyond.
Besides this recent contribution, the Sniders have consistently supported the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources over 17 years, donating $500,000. Despite not graduating from the University of Arizona, the Sniders have long recognized the institution’s mining engineering program as a world leader and felt it was time to further their engagement.
Aligning Vision with Support
Tim Snider, who earned his degree from Northern Arizona University, has had an illustrious career in mining. Beginning as a laborer with Phelps Dodge Corp., he rose to become the company’s president and COO. His career further included founding Cupric Canyon Capital, known for developing the Khoemacau copper mine in Botswana. Copper’s critical role in infrastructure and emerging technologies, like electric vehicles, underscores the importance of addressing projected production gaps. Goldman Sachs forecasts a potential shortfall between 4 to 8 million metric tons of copper annually by 2030, a significant challenge for global supply.
“The Sniders’ generous gift will allow us to accelerate our bold plans in mining education and research,” said David W. Hahn, the Craig M. Berge Dean of the College of Engineering. This donation comes at a strategic moment as the university intensifies its focus on meeting societal needs through mining education.
Snider, with half a century of mining experience, acknowledges the industry’s future challenges. “We haven’t been discovering enough copper deposits and building enough new copper mines to supply the demand that is coming,” he noted, emphasizing the urgency of maintaining a robust talent pipeline in the copper industry.
The inaugural U.S. Mining Summit, hosted by the university’s Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, underscored universities’ roles in advancing technology and recruitment. “Every time we talk to industry, they ask us about workforce,” said Kray Luxbacher, department head and Gregory H. and Lisa S. Boyce Leadership Chair.
The endowment fund aims to address these critical issues by focusing on student scholarships, particularly for first-generation students, faculty support, and discretionary spending. “Rhonda and I are very interested in helping first-generation kids who might not be able to pursue science or engineering education otherwise,” Snider shared.
Luxbacher highlighted the stagnant number of mining and engineering faculty since 2011, with only 87 nationwide. “This gift will be very impactful because we can retain our great faculty here at the University of Arizona, and they will have extra resources they can use for research and teaching methods they might not otherwise have the ability to explore.”
The discretionary funds will also support the university’s San Xavier Underground Mining Laboratory, which offers practical training and advanced research opportunities. “It’s a place where we end up needing discretionary spending, so it will be an enormous benefit,” Luxbacher stated, emphasizing the lab’s significance for experiential learning and industry engagement.
Currently, Tim Snider serves as a professional director on the board of Teck Resources Ltd., continuing his longstanding relationship with the university. “This gift is critical in its support of mining research and tomorrow’s U of A graduates who contribute to the industry in meaningful ways,” expressed John-Paul Roczniak, president and CEO of the University of Arizona Foundation, appreciating the Sniders’ decision for an endowed gift to ensure ongoing support critical to Arizona’s mining future.
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