Robbie Rice Gries is an American petroleum geologist who was the first female president (2001–02) of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), president of the Geological Society of America (2018–19), and founder of Priority Oil & Gas LLC.

[1][2] Gries was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1943 and her full birth name is Ruth Roberta Rice.

Gries, on vacations away from the Gulf Coast was fascinated with rocks and collected them on journeys, but never heard the word "geology" until she was a sophomore in college.

[1] Gries graduated from Del Mar College, where she had her first geology courses and developed a passion for the science.

[1] During graduate school, Robbie Rice married John Charles Gries and had her first and only child (Lynn Margaret).

In 1993 she facilitated a merger between Skaer Petroleum and Pease Oil and Gas and became an officer in the consolidated company.

[3] Priority began buying oil and gas properties and new leases and was dedicated to exploring, operating and drilling, primarily in Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming.

[1] The award recognizes petroleum geologists who have displayed exceptional leadership and remarkable service in a corporation, research facility or academic institution.