Skinner named dean of the Lance College of Mines and Engineering
Dr. Jack Skinner has been named the dean of the Lance College of Mines and Engineering at Montana Technological University. Skinner served in the interim role for the past year.
Dr. Skinner graduated in 2000 from Montana Tech with a B.S. in General Engineering with a Mechanical Engineering Option. He went on to receive an M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. Dr. Skinner worked as a graduate researcher at the Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center (BSAC), Berkeley, California, during his time as a Ph.D. student. He worked at Sandia National Laboratories for nearly 10 years, earning the rank of principal member of technical staff before becoming a faculty member at Montana Tech in 2012.
Dr. Skinner returned to Montana Tech in 2012 as an assistant professor in Mechanical Engineering in the General Engineering Department and was the founding department head of the Mechanical Engineering Department. Dr. Skinner is a dedicated educator, a highly productive scholar, and a passionate advocate for Montana Tech. Dr. Skinner has mentored over 60 students in research and overseen over $10 million in research grants since coming to Montana Tech. As an educator and researcher, he has earned four Rose and Anna Busch Faculty Achievement Awards, three merit awards for excellence in teaching, research, and service, two distinguished researcher awards, and an alumni recognition award.
“I have been fortunate to have such high-quality colleagues and mentors over the years and am honored to be named Dean of the Lance College of Mines and Engineering,” Skinner said. “As we move into our next 125 years at Montana Tech, we will continue to focus on providing life-changing opportunities.”
Since returning to Montana Tech in 2012 as an assistant professor, Dr. Skinner has built a remarkable record as a scholar, educator, and leader. He founded the Department of Mechanical Engineering, created Montana Tech’s first cleanroom facility, and continues to direct the Montana Tech Nanotechnology Laboratory. His research portfolio exceeds $14 million in funding, with 70 journal publications, 127 conference presentations, and 13 patents to his name. He is widely recognized internationally, serving as Associate Editor of MRS Advances and as Conference Chair and Chief Executive Officer for the 69th Electron, Ion and Photon Beam Technology and Nanofabrication Conference (EIPBN or 3-Beams), the world’s longest-running nanotechnology conference to be held in Denver in 2026.
Equally committed to teaching and mentorship, Dr. Skinner has guided more than 60 student researchers and earned four Rose L. and Anna M. Busch Endowed Faculty Achievement Awards, along with numerous accolades for research and service. His leadership extends beyond campus through active partnerships with private industry, fostering job creation and economic development, and through service to the local community, including his role on the Butte-Silver Bow Building Board of Appeals.
“I am delighted that Dr. Skinner has agreed to lead the Lance College of Mines and Engineering,” noted Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Tim Elgren. “I know he will continue to advance Montana Tech’s mission with vision, energy, and dedication.”