LeVier to Receive Montana Tech Honorary Doctorate Degree

Montana Tech awarded three previous honorary doctorate degrees to alum Bill Madison in 2012, alum Tom Dyk in 2011, and Frank Gardner in 2010. The award is presented to individuals who:

• Have achieved a level of distinction which merit comparable recognition in his or her profession or area of excellence.
• Have an association with the State of Montana. This association may be by virtue of birth, of residence, of education, of service to the state, the Montana University System, or one of the campuses of the System.
• Reflect favorably on Montana Tech, the Montana University System, and the State of Montana.

“Our campus is honored to present Mr. LeVier with the highest honor Montana Tech bestows,” noted Montana Tech Chancellor Don Blackketter, “Marc has made a positive impact on Montana Tech and on the mining industry around the globe.”

LeVier holds a B.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering and M.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering both from Michigan Technological University. He has more than 40 years of experience in metallurgical engineering and the mining industry. During his career, he worked on numerous mine development and expansion projects and led multiple discipline teams in the development of processes for base metals, industrial minerals, uranium, coal, iron ore, precious metals and rare earths.   

LeVier also serves on the Board of Directors of Great Western Minerals Group, a leader in the manufacture and supply of rare earth element-based metal alloys and developer of a low cost, high-grade critical rare earth element mineral property in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Mr. LeVier realigned and reorganized the company, improving efficiencies and eliminating waste.  He oversaw the completion of a National Instrument 43-101 compliant Preliminary Economic Study and a compliant Definitive Feasibility study for its rare earth project in South Africa, while simultaneously advancing the mine permitting. In addition, Mr. LeVier had responsibility for the completion of the modernization of the company’s specialty metals manufacturing subsidiary in the UK, which produces rare earth alloy for magnet producers, globally.

Prior to joining Great Western, Mr. LeVier was CEO, President, and a Director for Texas Rare Earth Resources Corporation. In a short period there, he established the company’s foundations for operation and formed a management team to support the company’s vision of building a mining company. The exploration drilling for the Round Top Mountain Project in west Texas was completed, a resource established and a 43-101 compliant PEA was published. His leadership on their Board of Directors identified the vision and long term goals to be achieved, while setting expectations and standards for the Board’s operation.

Prior to TRER, Mr. LeVier spent 22 years with Newmont Mining Corporation in several professional capacities, including 16 years as Senior Global Director of Metallurgical Research & Development. During this time, Mr. LeVier led the world-class metallurgical research team in the development of processes for resources, which have become Newmont’s primary producing properties today. These include the development of the Gold Quarry refractory ore treatment plant (ROTP), the Batu Hijau porphyry copper-gold mine in Indonesia, the heap leach operations at Minera Yanacocha in Peru, the Ahafo operations in Ghana, the Phoenix operation in Nevada, and the Boddington operation in Australia. Additionally, Mr. LeVier led the process development teams in the development of the former operations at Minahasa in Indonesia and the Zarafshan Joint Venture heap leach operation in Uzbekistan.

Mr. LeVier has also worked for Exxon Minerals Company, Joy Manufacturing Corporation and Derrick Manufacturing Corporation.  

Mr. LeVier is internationally recognized for his management and leadership skills. Additionally, he has applied those skills in his professional trade, having served on Industrial Advisory Boards at Montana Tech, Virginia Tech, Michigan Tech, and the University of Arizona. He has also served on the Board of Directors of AMIRA International Ltd, an international collaborative research company based in Australia, and the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME). His passion for education and mentoring was key to the success of reconnecting industry to the universities in R&D and gaining financial support from Newmont to key tier one schools, such as Montana Tech.

Mr. LeVier is a military veteran, having served as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and in the U.S. Army Reserve during the Vietnam era.
 
Montana Tech’s commencement is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2015 in the Butte Civic Center.