Mines Names New Provost, CEE Department Head

Two respected leaders at South Dakota Mines are stepping into new roles this spring.

Jim Stone, Ph.D., current department head of civil and environmental engineering (CEE), has been appointed the university’s next provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. He succeeds Lance Roberts, Ph.D., who is stepping down to pursue opportunities outside higher education. Stone will begin his new role on May 22, 2026.

Stone previously served as interim provost during the 2025 university presidential search, a period when Roberts was serving as interim president.

In addition, Marc Robinson, Ph.D., professor and associate CEE department head, will step into the role of department head.  

“Jim Stone and Marc Robinson are both highly respected leaders who have made lasting contributions to South Dakota Mines through their dedication to students, research and the success of their department,” said Mines President Brian Tande, Ph.D. “I look forward to working with both of them in their new roles.”

Stone has been a fixture at South Dakota Mines for more than 20 years. He earned undergraduate and master’s degrees at Virginia Tech before working for five years in industry, designing environmental remediation systems. Stone joined the Mines faculty in 2003, following the completion of his doctorate at Penn State University in 2002.

“Dr. Stone brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach and deep understanding of our institution to his new role as provost,” Tande said. “I am confident he will help guide Mines forward as we prepare students to meet the complex challenges of the future.”

As a professor, Stone’s research focused on a range of collaborative, interdisciplinary projects on sustainability and the environment. His work delved into issues around agriculture and environment, uranium mining, water quality and bioenergy production. Stone worked with environmental-focused students on relevant, real-world case studies and assignments to better prepare them to handle tomorrow’s complex environmental problems.

He has been CEE department head since 2020.

“It’s an honor and privilege to be considered for this leadership position at South Dakota Mines,” Stone said. “I’m looking forward to working with our talented faculty and staff across campus to help train our current and future science and engineering students for the grand challenges that await them in their future careers.”

In his free time, Stone enjoys everything outdoors - hiking, biking, snowboarding, camping. He recently completed the Dakota 5-0 mountain bike race, a challenging singletrack race in Spearfish, with his son Zander, a freshman civil and environmental engineering major at Mines.

Robinson joined the Mines faculty in 2009. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Utah State University. He worked at ABS Consulting, where he focused on the design of new buildings and the seismic retrofitting of existing structures. In 2008, he earned his doctorate in structural engineering from the University of California, San Diego.

“Dr. Robinson’s leadership, industry experience and commitment to excellence make him exceptionally well-suited to lead the civil and environmental engineering department,” Tande said.

Robinson has advised numerous undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of research areas during his nearly two decades at Mines.

“I have been part of the CEE department at South Dakota Mines for 17 years, and I look forward to coming to work every day because of our outstanding students, faculty and staff,” Robinson said. “I’m excited to build on the strong foundation already in place as we continue to support our CEE family in achieving their professional goals.”