William W. Atkinson, Jr. was a professor of geological sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder who specialized in mineral deposits and the chemistry of ore deposition. After earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and both a master’s degree and PhD in geology, Atkinson spent eleven years working for the Anaconda Mining Company before joining the faculty of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Geology Department in 1978. At CU Boulder he taught courses focused on ore deposition and geological mapping and regularly led students on field trips to mines across the western United States. He was known for mentoring graduate students and supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds, including women and international scholars, while helping guide them toward careers in industry, government, and academia. Over the course of his career, he supervised nearly fifty graduate students. He retired in 2004 and became professor emeritus, and the university later established the William (Bill) W. Atkinson (Jr.) Fellowship Fund to support graduate students in the geology department.