a ffable a dmiRable a ctive a ccuRate
a sseRtive a RRow - quick a wesome
a Rticulate a ccepting a ccessible
R owdy R eal R ogue R ollicking
R esilient
END OF AN ERA
Two generations of Mines petroleum en-
Dr. Graves set the foundation for her students to
gineering students taught by Dr. Graves.
have enjoyable and rewarding careers. As a professor,
Brett Allison ‘17
m oveR
Dr. Graves represents the very best of our industry and Mines. I always tried my best to “pay attention” (espe- cially when she used that phrase) because there was much to learn about being a petroleum engineer and a better person. As a friend, Ramona is someone that
RETIR OF DR. R
GRA
m asteRful
R elatable R adical
I will always hold in high esteem. I wish her the very best in retirement.
Dr. Ramona Graves has been affilia in various capacities for 42 years. In t
R esolute
R eceptive
Brian Owens MS ‘91
strive for, but few succeed at. She starte
was hired as a faculty member, moving up t
Vice Provost. The volume of students she has
On Sunday afternoons, Dr. Graves sat at her table, looked at
and the influence she has had on the oil and g
students’ pictures, and memorized students’ names. Rock
Born in rural Nebraska in the 1950s, her career op
Props course was a course size of >120 and she could call
State College with degrees in math and physics, s
each student’s name. In fact, she knew everybody’s name
realized it was not an ideal fit and after a friend sug
in PE department. She always enthusiastically supports
ed taking classes at University of Nebraska in chem
her students with their studies, research, navigate career
would not bring her joy, and she applied to a number
options, etc. She ran our department like family.
became the second women in the United States to ea
m eRRy
R ecognized R enowned
Dr Graves gave me many ‘B’s in my rock props course assignments. It is still painful in year 2019. In fact, her strict grading helped me become more detail-oriented
Graduating was just the beginning though and her firs you this was not what she wanted, but knew that taki away from her young children; she agreed and never lo
and that’s why Mines graduates are top-performers in the petroleum industry.
These days the majority of our alumni have taken PEGN ing the saying around here that Ramona really is the fa
R ational
R adiant
Dr. Grave loves China and Chinese students. As an in- ternational student, I always feel loved and welcome in Mines. I enjoy being your student so much, Dr. Graves! And thank you so much, Mines!
Sunny Wenhhi Wu MS ‘10
only passion though; she has been heavily involved in
m indful
Co-Director of the Center for Earth Materials, Mechan serves as Society of Petroleum Engineer’s (SPE) Direc
well as previously served on SPE’s Academic Advisor
and honors including the inaugural Pinnacle Award fr
The Petroleum Engineering department and th
and friend. The legacy that she leaves behind
ly appreciate and reflect on — and she ha
I have an immense amount of respect for Dr. Graves.
an, these pages are covered with sentime
She taught my dad (’91) and then she taught my brother
show their gratitude and support for her
(’17) and then she was still willing to put up with another
Thomas when I came along (’18). Dr. Graves had a profound impact on my collegiate experience. She awarded me with the very first Ramona M. Graves Endowed Scholarship, which extended from my sophomore year until I graduated. Her sup-
We wish you the best Ramona, and know
each other again.
With love and gratitude,
port for my education and development as an engineer has given me the confidence I need to pursue a successful career in a com- petitive industry. There is a reason that many of her students have gone on to become leaders in the industry as executives and man- agers and CEO’s. She pushes her students to do their best, as any good teacher should do, but then she goes above and beyond and inspires her students to be passionate about their work. She cares that her students care. She taught us that our work is important in this world and it is a privilege to become a petroleum engineer. And she is a huge reason that it’s an even bigger privilege to be- come a petroleum engineer from Colorado School of Mines.
The Department of P
at the Colorado
“A jar of crude oil smells Green!!” Dr. Ramona Graves, AKA change of perspective! What an enthusiastic professor. Thank you Dr.
Hannah Thomas ‘18
Graves!
Amanuel Berhe ‘14
R ambunctious
m aRvelous
m otivational
R eliable
R esouRceful
R espected
R egal
14 COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES