Dr. Amy McBrayer is an experienced mining professional who has held roles ranging from mine planning, mine design, and project engineering to logistics and operations management at large surface coal operations in the western United States.  In 2019, Amy returned to academia to complete her PhD and is a teaching assistant professor in the Mining Engineering Department at West Virginia University.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering and Agribusiness Management and Rural Development from West Virginia University and a Ph.D. in Geology, Geological Engineering, and Mining Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.  She was selected as a 2022-2023 SME Ph.D. Fellow, the 2023 Society of Mining Professors fellowship recipient, and is a member of the Order of Augusta at West Virginia University.  Her research focuses on developing tools to integrate operations research techniques into mine production schedules and integrating technology into Engineering Education.