| Staff Retirement
Denise Winn-Bower
What a ride it has been at Colorado School of Mines, 18 years in the Petroleum Engineering Dept. I didn’t even know what PE was when I was hired by Dr. Craig Van Kirk in 2004. My BS is in education, I taught high school in IL, moved to CO, and had no desire to teach. Being in the PE Dept filled a void I had for working with youth. I’ve had so much fun learning along with the students, driving for field sessions in CO, KS, SD, NY, PA, TX, LA, WY, ID, UT, NM and AK. Plus, Massadona! What an experience camping, hiking, strikes and dips, weathering snow and heat all in the same week! Additional highlights include chaperoning ATCE in Texas, Rome, Amsterdam, Florence, and Dubai. As program manager, I supported a variety of aca- demic professor’s research and research groups: FAST, EMG, UREP, UNGI, training of oil and gas regulators - TOPCORP.
Interacting with students from around the world and being able to visit them in their own country has enriched my time in PE. What has touched my heart the most is working with the PE graduate students, mentoring them through the program, learning who they are, about their country and culture, bugging them to stay on track, and being proud of their success in school and life. A bittersweet time, for I will not miss the work but I will miss the students and my colleagues. I plan to be at ATCE in Houston in October, I hope to see you there. Keep in touch dwinnbow80@gmail.com.
Terri Snyder
What an unexpected journey I have had over the last 16 years in this department! I have made friends from all corners of the world, traveled to places I would have never dreamed of, been on offshore rigs and even set foot on the Arctic Circle. I started this job thinking I would be sitting at a desk in the PE office, but there was so much more! I had the opportunity to be a part of the PE’s field sessions, which from an outsider’s perspective are incredible! It was a wonderful way to get to know our students and learn how the oil and gas Industry works! I have even experienced the famous Massa - dona field session. Over the years, I have enjoyed being in the front office and getting to know all of our students who have passed through the department, oh and faculty too! I then became the first Undergraduate Program Manager for the PE department, fancy title for advisor to the Undergrads. It has been a privilege to work with you, whether it was signing the plethora of forms needed, scheduling issues or just being there for you through the hard times and really great times at Mines. That was the best part of my job! What an amazing group of people you all are! I have seen over 1,700 of you graduate and proud of all of you!
Terri at the spring 2017 graduation with Ahmed Al Shubbar, James DeBartolomeis, and David Choi.
I will be moving on to a new chapter of my life on September 10 to spend time with my family (two new grandsons), traveling, hiking, camping and volunteering. I am excited, but also a little sad to be leaving an environment full of intelligence, possibilities and young minds. I will miss you all, but intend to visit the many countries you call home. Who knows when you will get an email from me won- dering if we can get together and catch up! You don’t have to wait and can email me first at terrisnyder4@gmail.com.
Other News
• Prof. Sorensen became SPE Production & Facilities Advisory
Committee member
• Dr. Fleckenstein made a Patent Application: “System and
Method for Harvesting Geothermal Energy from a Subterranean
Formation” (Serial No. 63/237,425)
• Dr. Fleckenstein was awarded a patent: “A Downhole Tractor for
Use in a Wellbore” (U.S. 10,927,625) US10927625B2 - Downhole
tractor for use in a wellbore - Google Patents
The Apache drill set up in its new home for use during one
of the PEGN 311
drilling labs.
PETROLEUM .MINES. EDU
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mailto:dwinnbow80@gmail.com mailto:terrisnyder4@gmail.com https://petroleum.mines.edu/