February 23, 2026 - The University of Texas at El Paso has appointed George Luxbacher, Ph.D., to spearhead the relaunch of its Mining Engineering program. Luxbacher, whose career spans more than five decades in mining research, industry leadership and federal government service, officially joins UTEP on March 23 as a professor of practice.

The University of Texas at El Paso has appointed George Luxbacher, Ph.D., to spearhead the relaunch of its Mining Engineering program – an initiative backed by more than $52 million in combined investments. Luxbacher, whose career spans more than five decades in mining research, industry leadership and federal government service, officially joins UTEP on March 23 as a professor of practice.

The appointment marks a defining milestone in UTEP’s effort to restart the only Mining Engineering program in Texas – an initiative backed by more than $52 million in combined investments.

“Getting a program of this magnitude off the ground requires someone with both the technical vision and the real-world leadership experience to make it happen, and Dr. Luxbacher brings exactly that,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “I look forward to the impact he will make as we build a program that will serve Texas, the nation and the global mining industry for generations to come.” 

Luxbacher brings exceptional credentials and extensive leadership experience to UTEP. Most recently, he served as deputy associate director for mining at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), where he oversaw the agency’s national mining research portfolio and managed more than $10 million annually in research grants. He is a past president of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) and a two-time president of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME), and has earned numerous honors, including the 2025 SME/AIME Charles F. Rand Memorial Gold Medal Award.

“UTEP has everything it takes to build one of the premier mining engineering programs in the country – the investment, the location, the institutional heritage and the drive to make a real difference,” said Luxbacher. “My expectations for what this program can achieve are high, and I am committed to ensuring that every student who comes through our doors is ready to lead the industry into the future.” 

Luxbacher earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and has held executive and technical positions across multiple industries, including coal mining, oil and gas and environmental remediation.

In his new role, Luxbacher will lead all aspects of the program’s relaunch – developing a modern curriculum, recruiting faculty and staff, building industry and academic partnerships and fostering collaboration with UTEP’s existing engineering programs.

The B.S. in Mining Engineering has been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Students are expected to begin classes in Fall 2027.

In September 2024, The University of Texas System Board of Regents committed $20 million to reestablish the program. The Texas Legislature followed in May 2025 with an additional $20 million appropriation, and global mining leader Freeport-McMoRan and other industry partners have contributed an additional $12 million to further support the effort. These funds will be directed toward state-of-the-art teaching facilities, research laboratories and academic infrastructure.

Once fully established, the program is projected to produce up to 100 mining engineers annually who will enter a field facing a critical national shortage. Last year, U.S. universities graduated only 312 mining engineers despite an estimated 500 job openings projected each year over the next decade.

Founded in 1913 as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy, UTEP last offered a mining engineering degree in 1964.

For more information about UTEP's Mining Engineering program, visit utep.edu/mining.