From Ghana to Butte: Mina Atuguba sets sights on leading global mining industry

If you ask Mina Atuguba what her dream job is, she’s quick to answer.

“CEO of BHP,” the world’s largest diversified natural resources company. It’s a big goal, but Atuguba has already crossed continents, immersed herself in an unfamiliar culture, and pushed herself academically and professionally at the highest level to earn her Master of Science in Geological Engineering from Montana Technological University May 9. She’s learned that if she puts in the work, she can reach any goal.

Originally from Navrongo in the Upper East Region, Atuguba came to Montana Tech after earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa, Ghana. She wanted to deepen her expertise in geological engineering by earning a master’s degree with a concentration in geotechnical engineering. Her journey to Butte was intentional. Drawn by Montana Tech’s reputation for hands-on learning and strong outcomes for graduates, she saw the university as a place that could prepare her for a global career.

“I just knew that coming here would change my life,” Atuguba said.

Her interest in geology began early. As a student in Ghana, she was fascinated by how the earth forms and changes. A school trip to Lake Bosomtwe—created by a meteorite impact—sparked a deeper curiosity about geological processes. That curiosity eventually evolved into a desire to apply engineering principles to the natural world.

“I didn’t want to just learn about geology,” she said. “I wanted to know how engineering applies to it—how those conditions influence the decisions we make.”

At Montana Tech, that interest took shape through research and real-world application. Her thesis develops and experimentally validates a standardized framework for evaluating the performance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in indoor and underground environments by assessing key operational parameters under realistic stress conditions. It further integrates UAV-acquired visual and thermal data into geotechnical analysis, enabling rock mass characterization and supporting more informed stability assessment and ground support design.

The work required her to develop a wide range of technical skills, from piloting drones to analyzing imagery and synthesizing complex data. Her research took her into the Underground Mine Education Center (UMEC), where she tested how drones function in challenging environments with limited visibility and battery life. The experience spurred growth academically and personally.

“It challenged me in ways I couldn’t explain,” she said. “But I realized it was preparing me for the future.”

Outside the classroom, Atuguba found community and leadership opportunities. She served as financial secretary for the African Students Association, helping officially register the group and organize its inaugural event. The experience taught her how to collaborate, build consensus, and bring people together around a shared vision.

“It taught me that when you have a great community and you all see a vision and work toward it, it’s very achievable,” she said.

Her time in Butte wasn’t without challenges. Moving from Ghana to the United States meant leaving behind family and adapting to a new culture. Balancing coursework, research, and responsibilities as a teaching assistant added pressure, and there were moments of homesickness and doubt.

“There is no shortcut to wherever you want to get to,” she said. “You either have to do it or leave it—and I didn’t want to leave it.”

Through perseverance, Atuguba built not only technical expertise but also confidence and resilience. Along the way, she secured a competitive internship with Nevada Gold Mines, where she gained underground mining experience and applied her classroom knowledge in a professional setting.

Her biggest supporters, she said, have been her family—especially her mother—along with friends, mentors, and faculty who encouraged her along the way. She is particularly thankful for her advisor Dr. Mary MacLaughlin, who saw her through the master’s program and to Isaac Cobbinah, for introducing her to Dr. MacLaughlin.

Now, as she prepares to address her fellow graduates at commencement, Atuguba reflects on a journey defined by growth.

“It has been a journey of resilience,” she said. “It has built my confidence and strengthened my sense of purpose. I’m grateful to God for bringing me this far—the gift of life, His mercies, and the opportunity to learn and become who I am today.”

Looking ahead, she plans to build experience in the mining industry and continue developing her skills in geotechnical engineering. She knows her ambitions to lead at the highest level of the global mining sector are lofty, but she intends to reach them.

For now, though, she’s focused on the milestone just ahead: celebrating her achievements and sharing her story with the Class of 2026 as commencement speaker. Atuguba will speak at the 1 p.m. commencement ceremony in the HPER, which will honor students in the Graduate School and Lance College of Mines and Engineering.