Section Image: Benji Backer and Michael Slattery on stage in the Hays Banquet Room during the Energy Summit

By the Numbers: Ralph Lowe Energy Institute Celebrates Energy Week with Powerful Programming

Energy Week welcomes industry executives, TCU leaders and energy innovators to campus for a full week of activities benefitting students, faculty and alumni.

October 09, 2024

By Ralph Lowe Energy Institute

The Ralph Lowe Energy Institute at the TCU Neeley School of Business recently hosted their third annual Energy Week. The institute turned the annual fall summit into a full week of energy programming a few years ago as a way to recognize the energy industry's critical role in powering the world, creating jobs, driving innovation, research, and philanthropy, while also creating community on campus and beyond.

To recap Energy Week 2024, let’s take a look back by the numbers.

3 - TCU Legends in Energy at the RLEI Board meeting
Larry Brogdon, Barry Davis, and Mary Ralph Lowe all play active roles on the institute’s advisory board. This level of involvement from legends in the industry is a huge differentiator of the energy business education at TCU.

Summit attendees mingle outside the Hays Banquet Room

70 - J.T. Aughinbaugh’s TCU jersey number
The former Horned Frogs offensive lineman played a big role in the strategic partnership between the Ralph Lowe Energy Institute and JPMorgan Chase. Aughinbaugh ’02 (MBA ’04)

200 - Attendees at the RLEI Energy Policy Summit
Benji Backer, the founder and executive chairman of the American Conservation Coalition, spoke to a packed room at the institute’s annual event.

Benji Backer and others pose with sponsor sign

457 - Dinks at the inaugural Energy Industry Pickleball Tournament
The soft, controlled shot - also called a dink - was a favorite at the Energy Industry Pickleball tournament. Energy MBA candidate Evann Crawford ’25 created this fun event for Energy Week that brought students, faculty, and industry to campus and helped raise funds for energy scholarships.

1988 - Graduation year of Jimmy Glotfelty
Glotfelty, a commissioner on the Public Utility Commission of Texas, spoke to Neeley School of Business professor Tom Seng’s Electric Power class.

10 - MBA students at dinner with Oncor COO and RLEI board member, Jim Greer
Neeley Graduate Programs hosted a C-level dinner with Greer. He is a longtime board member at the institute, and his insights on the industry were invaluable.

C-Level dinner with Jim Greer

Decades - Years of energy experience in Neeley adjunct professor Lynn Frank’s Monday class
Frank brought in George Young, CEO of Pegasus, Wesley Williams, Partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld, and Todd Spake, Partner at Kelly Hart & Hallman, to talk to Energy MBAs and Energy Business minors about private equity.

Approximately 50 - Alumni at the Energy MBA tailgate
The RLEI has a thriving community of alumni, faculty fellows, university leadership, and industry partners and it was an outstanding end to energy week to have them come together at a tailgate before the TCU-University of Houston game.