Longhorn Energy seeks to leverage the world-class academic, co-curricular, and extra-curricular energy opportunities at UT for the betterment of all members of the UT community. In particular, the aim of this organization shall be to build community and collaboration between students at UT, support energy-related activities and events, and to aid members in pursuit of energy careers.

Leadership Board

**President**
Jackson School of Geosciences

Nina Hebel

Nina is pursuing her Master of Science in Energy and Earth Resources. She received her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and Spanish from Villanova University, and then began her career as a drill bit designer for Baker Hughes. While at UT, she has worked as a student associate with the Energy Institute and as an intern with Jupiter Power. Her thesis focuses on the relationship between the geology and economics of geothermal power production. After graduating, she hopes to leverage her technical background to address economic and policy barriers to deployment of new energy technologies.

**Vice Chair**
Jackson School of Geosciences

Danny Greer

Danny is pursuing a Masters degree in Energy and Earth Resources from the Jackson School. He is interested in electricity markets and renewable technology integration. Danny is working on a thesis that will discuss the Missing Money problem in energy only electricity markets, and assess the ability of the market to perform with high penetrations of renewables. Following graduation, Danny will stay in Austin to work for Ørsted on their ERCOT asset management team. In his free time, Danny is a fan of outdoor activities and the Austin music scene.

VP of Professional Development
Cockrell School of Engineering

John Mellinger

John is a mechanical engineering master's student researching for the Computational Nuclear Engineering Group. John has a wide swath of professional experience ranging from the oil and gas industry, to the electric vehicle industry, to the energy storage industry. While earning his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, John often found it overwhelming to search for jobs while studying for classes, making friends, or working on passion projects. After graduating, he wanted to provide a space with centralized opportunities for students like him seeking careers in the energy industry, particularly in renewables. John believes many qualified students end up settling for careers outside their core interest area because of the high barriers in the renewable energy industry, and he strives to close that gap for all UT students. Outside of school, John loves playing basketball and working on his startup, Primal.

VP of Research
Jackson School of Geosciences

Andrew Kleiman

Andrew is a native Texan originally from Dallas. He graduated from UT Austin in 2016 with a degree in history, and spent four years working in politics, tech, and the solar industry before enrolling in the Energy and Earth Resources Master’s program last fall. He is interested in how the energy transition will affect the environment, and his research focuses on comparing the impacts of copper and cobalt supply chains across wind, solar and natural gas electricity generation. When not in class, he enjoy spending time outside, going to concerts, and exploring all of the wonderful things that Austin has to offer.

**VP of Corporate Relations**
Jackson School of Geosciences

Khushboo Agarwal

Khushboo is a Masters student in Energy and Earth Resources at the Jackson School of Geosciences. She is interested in sustainable energy generation, water sustainability and energy-water nexus. Her current research interest is in electricity grid resilience and microgrids. She is also very passionate about data analytics and machine learning and interested in applying these tools to solve energy problems. Outside of school, she loves to hike, swim, and cook.

VP of Entrepreneurship
Cockrell School of Engineering

Ben Stormer

Ben grew up in Amarillo, TX and is currently pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He has a passion for alternative energy technologies and initiatives, which prompted him to join the Longhorn Energy Club in the Fall of 2020 as the VP of Research. He is interested in the crossroad between the technological and business aspects of renewable energy, and hopes to promote these in his current role as the VP of Entrepreneurship. Outside of school, Ben enjoys basketball, movies, rock climbing, and hip-hop music.

VP of Alumni Relations

Cockrell School of Engineering

Michael Furgeson

Michael grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University in 2019. At the University of Texas at Austin, Michael is pursuing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering, specializing in thermal/fluid systems. His research focuses on film cooling in gas turbine engines, with an emphasis on design optimization using additive manufacturing. Michael has a strong interest in energy and how it will shape the future, using both conventional and alternative sources. In addition to his primary degree program, Michael participates in GPPES, or the Graduate Portfolio Program in Energy Studies.

VP of K-12 Outreach

Cockrell School of Engineering

Christian Hurd

Christian is a third year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. Raised among the wind farms of the Texas Panhandle, Christian gained a passion for emerging energy technologies at a young age. As a former D.A.R.E. mentor, Christian has experience in instructing and engaging K-12 students. His current interests focus on the development and use of hydrogen fuel cells. Outside of studying, Christian enjoys listening to music and running local trails.