Jenifer Shafer has been named the inaugural Ben L. Fryrear Presidential Chair at Colorado School of Mines.
A member of the Mines faculty since 2012, Shafer is a professor of chemistry and recently completed a tour at the U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), serving as both a Program Director and Associate Director for Technology and managing research portfolios related to advanced nuclear energy. In this role, she oversaw a wide array of high-impact energy technologies and guided market-ready innovations through the commercialization pipeline.
As the Ben L. Fryrear Presidential Chair, Shafer will focus heavily on the intersection of energy and commercialization, working with Mines faculty and students to support efforts to move new energy technologies to the market. She will also help strengthen the relationships between Mines and the broader energy startup ecosystem, finding key opportunities to serve as a connection between industry and the Mines community.
This new role was made possible thanks to a gift from Ben Fryrear ‘62, who previously helped establish the Fryrear Chairs for Innovation and Excellence. Fryrear endowed the new chair to attract and reward faculty who can respond with urgency to time-critical opportunities of strategic importance to Mines, industry and the nation, with the goal of positioning Mines to be a national and global leader in those topics of strategic importance.
“Jen’s unique blend of academic depth and high-level government experience makes her the perfect candidate for this new role,” said Mines President Paul C. Johnson. “Her experience in national leadership roles positions her to support broad technology translation across the energy spectrum, while continuing to serve as a key expert in Mines' nuclear energy portfolio. We're incredibly grateful to Ben and Judy Fryrear for making it possible for us to grow Mines’ engagement and impact in the rapidly changing energy landscape.”
A faculty member in the Mines Nuclear Science and Engineering Program and Department of Chemistry, Shafer’s research focus is developing f-element separations to support advanced nuclear fuel cycles, national security and critical mineral processing. As an ARPA-E Program Director, she served in a national leadership role related to identifying solutions to nuclear waste challenges.
"Mines has a unique energy focus that differentiates us from many institutions of higher education," Shafer said. “I am honored to step into a role that further amplifies our position in the 'what's next' conversation. My time at ARPA-E reinforced that solving our greatest energy challenges requires more than just great science – it requires complete, community bridges between the lab and the marketplace. I look forward to helping our faculty and students navigate that path across all sectors of energy innovation.”
Shafer joined Mines from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where she was a staff scientist. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and a PhD from Washington State University.
"While my technical background is rooted in the complexities of the nuclear fuel cycle, this chair is about the bigger picture,” Shafer said. “We are in a pivotal moment regarding our energy future and meeting new energy demands. I am excited to help Mines lead on these strategic fronts, ensuring our institution remains a key partner for industry and government alike."
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
