Faculty spotlight

Dr. Richard O. Mines, Jr. has over twenty-six years of industrial and academic experience in civil and environmental engineering specializing in the design and modeling of biological wastewater treatment systems. He has taught at three different colleges/universities: Virginia Military Institute, University of South Florida, and Mercer University. During his consulting years with CH2M Hill and BLACK & VEATCH, he served as an adjunct professor at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida and at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Dr. Mines has written over 90 journal articles, conference proceedings, and technical reports in addition to making 47 technical and educational presentations.

Dr. Richard O. Mines, Jr., B.S., M.E., Ph.D., P.E., Professor & Program Director, MSE & Associated MS Programs

Dr. Mines serves as Program Director - MSE & Associated MS Programs and has been on the faculty of the School of Engineering since 1998. He has been responsible for the development and implementation of the environmental specialization curriculum at Mercer. Dr. Mines teaches a wide array of courses including Programming for Engineers, Introduction to Environmental Engineering, Engineering Hydrology, Engineering Hydraulics, Design and Analysis of Water Treatment Systems, Design and Analysis of Wastewater Treatment Systems, Biological Wastewater Treatment, Senior Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Natural Treatment Systems, Environmental Engineering Design Exhibit I, and Environmental Engineering Design Exhibit II. He also serves as faculty advisor to the Student Chapter of the Water Environment Federation and the Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

On January 20, 2007, Dr. Mines was elected into the Bath County Virginia Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in football, basketball, and baseball while in high school in addition to being a cross-country and long distance runner as a Keydet at the Virginia Military Institute. Mines has logged over 65,000 miles since he began running in the spring of 1972 and successfully completed 53 marathons in 21 states.

Dr. Mines is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a member of the Water Environment Federation, American Society for Engineering Education, and Environmental and Water Resources Institute. He is registered as a professional engineer in Florida, New Mexico, and Virginia.

Dr. Mines has been an Air Force Summer Research Fellow and active researcher in both technical and educational areas throughout his academic career. Most recently, he and Dr. Laura Lackey have collaboratively investigated the treatment of acid yellow dye using ozone and currently are evaluating ozonation of waste activated sludge. Dr. Mine’s most significant research grant was obtained from the Engineering Foundation and involved the study of oxygen uptake rate as an activated sludge process control parameter. Additional information on Dr. Mines may be found on his faculty web page.