Tom Bates is named the inaugural Mitchell Family Endowed Executive-in-Residence in Energy through a generous gift from TCU alumnus Chris Mitchell.
October 11, 2024
By Ralph Lowe Energy Institute
Chris Mitchell ‘96 has excelled in the business of energy, as the president and COO of Rimrock Midstream, and believes in giving back to his alma mater. He and his wife, Jennifer, recently endowed a new executive-in-residence role with a focus on energy. Tom Bates is the faculty serving as the inaugural Mitchell Family Endowed Executive-in-Residence in Energy in the Ralph Lowe Energy Institute within the Neeley School of Business.
“TCU was just very foundational for me,” said Mitchell, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. “I credit TCU with quite a bit of my professional development, both for teaching the technical component, as well as the relationship building that is sometimes overlooked in importance in creating reasonable and cost-effective business solutions.”
Mitchell wanted to ensure this business-driven, pragmatic learning experience for another generation of Horned Frogs. Mitchell and his wife also supported the Dean’s Discretionary Fund at TCU’s College of Science & Engineering.
Bates is an adjunct professor in the Finance Department, where he teaches Energy Macroeconomics in the MBA program. He has close to 50 years of experience in the energy space and still serves on the board of directors for many energy companies. His experience ranges from oil service management and operation to energy-focused private equity to private and corporate investing in oil-service technology startups. He practices what he teaches.
“I am excited to be named the inaugural Mitchell Family Endowed Executive-in-Residence in Energy at TCU and very appreciative of the vision that Chris Mitchell has in establishing the program,” Bates said. “In the 12 years the Energy MBA has been around, the students have consistently ranked ‘access to working with adjunct professors’ as one of the most valuable features of the program. This new residency will extend that access to undergraduate students consistent with the expansion of the Energy Business minor.”
A big differentiator for the Energy MBA and Energy Business minor at Neeley is the institute’s commitment to bringing professionals from the energy space into the classroom. Along with Bates, the institute has Jonny Brumley, CEO of Presta Petroleum; Rob Clarke, Vice President of Upstream Research at Wood Mackenzie; Lynn Frank, CFO of Pegasus Resources; Joshua Gregg, CFO at Double Eagle Energy Holdings IV; and Todd Spake, partner at Kelly Hart, teaching, mentoring and inspiring graduate and undergraduate students.
