UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Edward C. Dowling Jr., a graduate of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, was awarded the lifelong title of Alumni Fellow by the Penn State Alumni Association earlier this fall. The Alumni Fellow Award is the most prestigious award given by the Penn State Alumni Association.

Dowling has more than 30 years of mining experience and leadership roles in numerous national and international companies. He is recognized in the industry for his ability to assemble and motivate teams of people to tackle and deliver challenging projects for creation of long-term value.

Dowling is corporate director at Teck Resources Ltd.; chairman of the board of directors at Polyus Gold; chairman of the board of directors, former president and chief executive officer for Alacer Gold Corp.; and director at Detour Gold Corp. He has also held CEO-level leadership positions for Alacer Gold Corp., De Beers SA and Meridian Gold Inc.

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences awarded Dowling the Stefanko Distinguished Achievement Award in 2009, the Centennial Fellow Award in 1996 and the Alumni Achievement Award in 1995.

Dowling is a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association and is a facility-naming donor in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. He lives with his wife, Nicole, in Greenwood Village, Colo. He has a son, Jake, who also lives in Colorado.

Dowling graduated with his bachelor of science degree in mining engineering in 1982 and his master's and doctorate in mineral processing in 1987 and 1998 respectively.

Since 1973, the Alumni Fellow Award has been given to select alumni who, as leaders in their professional fields, are nominated by an academic college and accept an invitation from the president of the University to return to campus to share their expertise with students, faculty and administrators.