Alumni

Dr. Michael Lalich was the first and only director of the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Minnesota-Duluth from its creation in 1984 until his retirement in 2014. NRRI was established by the MN Legislature in 1983 to foster economic development of MN's natural resources in an environmentally sound manner and to promote private sector employment. Prior to NRRI, Dr. Lalich spent 12 years with Foote Mineral . . .

Karen A. Swager is Vice President, Mining Operations for the phosphates business unit of The Mosaic Company, the world's leading producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash, two of the primary crop nutrients required to grow the food the world needs. In this capacity, she provides overall direction, guidance and day-to-day support for all mining operations in the phosphates business unit. Previously, Karen . . .

Barbara earned a bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1980 and a master's degree in 1982. She then later completed her PhD in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science in 1991 from Michigan Tech. In 1986, Barbara worked at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, New York) in the Materials Science Department as an Instructor/Materials Scientist. In 1988 she joined the Metallurgy and Ceramics Division . . .