CSMAA History

A Brief History of the Colorado School of Mines Alumni Association Originally intended as a theology school, Bishop George Randall recognized an opportunity to produce highly trained men in industry to aid in the economic development of the Territory of Colorado. The Colorado School of Mines, as it is now known, was founded in 1874. When the total number of graduates rose to 61, an alumni association was formed in 1895. The original purpose of the association was social connectivity and so it remained for quite some time. The modern concept of an alumni association, existing to mutually benefit the individuals and the schools from which they graduated, was a foreign concept. Even as other alumni associations organized around the country through their parent schools or universities with funding and control from those entities, the Alumni Association at Mines was steadfastly independent for reasons unknown.

In 1910, the Colorado School of Mines Magazine, eventually known as Mines Magazine, was established.

Even with progress, tensions between the School and the Alumni Association were serious for many years, with issues of control chief among the concerns. In due course, this led to the removal of the Alumni Association from campus to an office in Denver, where it remained from 1921 to 1960.

World War II hero Colonel Wendell W. Fertig was hired in 1960 as Alumni Association secretary, and he is credited with building a relationship with the School of mutual assistance. He felt strongly that the Association could not function properly so far removed from campus. The board of directors of the Association agreed with him, and with the cooperation of the then President John W. Vanderwilt, the Association was welcomed back.

When Colonel Fertig became ill and died in 1975, David Cole E.M. '52 took over on interim basis until the hiring of George Mitchell E.M. '53 a few months later. Mitchell served from 1976 to 1980 as executive director, a title the board of directors created for him. When Mitchell resigned in 1980 to return to private industry, Colonel William E. Leckie MSc. Min. '49 became interim until David M. Crawford E.M. '51 was hired. Crawford, who served from 1981 to 1983, strived to build a better relationship between the Association and Foundation. During Crawford's tenure, the board of directors voted to expand its size. Regional territories were created and directors from each of the regions were elected to staggered terms. Upon Crawford's resignation, Dr. William M. Mueller Met. E. '40 served an interim term until Norman R. Zehr E.M. '52 took the executive director's post in 1984. He served until 1995, creating new programs for financial accountability within the Association, while simultaneously working closely with the Foundation and the Office of Institutional Advancement. Under his term, the office was moved from Chauvenet Hall to the Twin Towers, later named Weaver Towers. In 1995, a new executive director was hired, Roger Nielson BSc. Min. '75, and he oversaw another move from Weaver Towers to the former Jefferson County Sheriff's offices, now known as the campus’s Annex Building, where the office remains today. In 1996 Dan Witkowsky '66 was appointed executive director and he resigned in 1997, leaving Mary Jo Giddings as acting executive director until 1998 when Michael Watson was hired. Under Watson’s leadership, there was an effort to get a history of Mines published, Rocky Mountains to the World: A History of the Colorado School of Mines, which came to fruition in 2004. Soon after, the Association fell on hard times. With increased programming needs and a static membership base, a decision was made to lay off Watson in 2003. Staffer Kathy Breit became interim executive director, awaiting further direction.

It was during this time that a great deal of speculation about the future of the Alumni Association began. A result of work between Mines President John Trefny, President of the Board of Trustees Steven Mooney and Alumni Association President John Schwartzberg, an agreement was created between the Colorado School of Mines and the Alumni Association, known as the Joint Operating Agreement. While the Alumni Association was to remain an independent organization, it would become a hybrid from a relational position in that a new executive director would be funded by the School and report jointly to the School president and to the CSMAA Board of Directors. A national search was begun. Anita Pariseau, of Harvard University’s Alumni Association, moved to Colorado and began her tenure as executive director in late 2004. Since then, she has placed greater emphasis on healthy School-Foundation-Association relations. With increased funding, the Alumni Association was on course to foster connections through its reinvigorated or new programs. Pariseau increased staff and corresponding programs, such as a mentoring program for students and alumni; an annual event for alumni called E-Days ’Round the World in 50 or more cities; personal and professional development events for both students and alumni (financial planning, leadership, changing careers in midlife); a redesigned Mines Magazine; a professionally published Alumni Directory; a robust volunteer network and section development; increase in Life Memberships; community-building on campus; and strategic stewardship of funding.