Bill Atkinson Graduate Fellowship Fund

Thank you to everyone who supported our crowdfunding campaign honoring retired geology professor Bill Atkinson. The campaign has officially closed, and we’re so grateful for the outpouring of support.

If you missed the campaign but would still like to contribute in Bill's honor, donations can still be made here:
http://giveto.colorado.edu/campaigns/68169/donations.new

Your generosity helps carry forward Bill’s legacy in the CU Boulder community.

Support the William (Bill) W. Atkinson (Jr.) Fellowship Fund

In Honor of a Beloved Professor, Mentor, and Advocate

Professor William (Bill) W. Atkinson, Jr. retired from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2004 after 26 years in the Department of Geological Sciences. As the department’s only economic geologist, Bill brought a practical, hands-on teaching style shaped by over a decade in the global mining industry—both in the field and underground.

During his tenure, Bill mentored more than 50 graduate students and advised countless undergraduates. His courses were challenging, his expectations high, and his field trips—to mines and prospects across the U.S. and abroad—truly unforgettable. Students fondly recall his engaging instruction in underground mapping, core logging, and even his quirky phase (or was it “faze”?) diagrams.

Bill’s legacy goes beyond academics. He championed students from underrepresented backgrounds, especially women and international scholars, at a time when such support was rare in the mining industry. Rather than pursue prestige through publication, he devoted his energy to guiding students toward fulfilling careers in industry, government, and academia. As he once wrote, “Although I was directing the students, I learned a lot from each one. It was a great pleasure supervising theses.”

To honor his lasting impact, we are establishing the William (Bill) W. Atkinson (Jr.) Fellowship Fund—a graduate fellowship within the Department of Geological Sciences at CU Boulder. This fund will provide vital support to future graduate students and uphold Bill’s values of mentorship, excellence, and opportunity.

Your gift will help continue Professor Atkinson’s legacy and empower the next generation of geoscientists. When this fund reaches $25,000 if will be converted into an endowment, providing funds in perpetuity.