Keith A. Heasley, PhD, PE

Dr. Heasley's expertise is in the areas of mining safety and health, numerical modeling in rock mechanics, computer applications in mining, multiple-seam mine design and ground control. He has authored/co-authored over 90 scientific articles in these areas, and directed over 35 research projects for federal and state agencies and private companies. He is probably best known as the originator and promoter of the LaModel program for coal mine pillar design.

Prior to his appointment with WVU, he was employed by the former US Bureau of Mines and then the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory. He started his career as a project engineer for the underground coal mines in the Midwestern Region of Consolidation Coal Company.

He earned a BS and an MS in Mining Engineer from The Pennsylvania State University. While working for the US Bureau of Mines, he obtained a PhD in Mining Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. He obtained his Professional Engineers license in and is a registered professional engineer in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

He has served on the Board of Directors for the national Society of Mining Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), the Pittsburgh Section of the SME, and the American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA). He also serves as a technical editor for the SME and on the local organizing committee for the International Ground Control in Mining Conference.

He won the Stephan McCann Educational Excellence Award from the PCMIA, the Outstanding Teacher for the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, the Syd S. Peng Ground Control in Mining Award, and the Old Timers Club Faculty Award.

Since May, 2012, he has been serving as one of the three directors for the Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of Mine Safety and Health.