Dr. Lee Saperstein was born in Inwood, Manhattan, growing up in New York City’s public school system. In 1959, just before his senior year at the Bronx High School of Science, he discovered his interest in mining engineering from an article in the Wall Street Journal. Upon graduation, he began his academic career at the Montana School of Mines. Dr. Saperstein continued his education as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford before beginning his decades-long career in academia, first at Penn State, then at the University of Kentucky, and finally at the University of Missouri-Rolla, where he served as dean of the School of Mines and Metallurgy. Dr. Saperstein’s career has been defined by his dedication to doing what’s right, whether that means improving mining education curriculum to set the next generation up for greater success or going underground to help rewrite the rules for miner safety. Dr. Saperstein worked to modernize the curriculum at Penn State, influenced MSHA to adopt the silica rule for air breathability, and helped strengthen accreditation and professional standards through extensive work with ABET and NIOSH. Despite his own accomplishments, Dr. Saperstein believes that the highlight of his career is seeing his students succeed in the industry.