President

Cockrell School of Engineering

Samuel Mercer

Sam is a PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering and advised by Dr. Michael Baldea. He uses computational applied mathematics and dynamic programming to design, model, and optimize electrified chemical manufacturing processes. Prior to UT, Sam worked on IoT sensor networks with Amazon Web Services and catalysis research for energy and battery applications at the University of Florida, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and his alma mater—the University of New Hampshire (2023). In Austin, Sam has been involved with Texas Venture Labs on business model innovations that reduce supply chain disruptions in power systems. He also collaborates with climate-/deep-tech entrepreneurs in Houston and Boston as a TEX-E Fellow. Sam has been recognized as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow (GRFP), Barry Goldwater Scholar, and national winner of the 2023 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Student Process Design Competition as well as a U.S. Finalist for both Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships. After hours, he enjoys watching college sports, playing piano, and kayaking on Lady Bird Lake in Austin.

Vice Chair

College of Liberal Arts, College of Natural Sciences

Leila Wald

Leila is an undergraduate Economics major in the College of Liberal Arts and a Mathematics major in the College of Natural Sciences. She is involved with UT's Campus Environmental Center volunteer programs as well as the University Yoga and Craft clubs. She is passionate about renewable energy, energy finance, data analytics, and sustainability. Leila hopes to one day contribute to sustainable changes in the business world. In the meantime, she enjoys volunteering, crocheting, and attending concerts with friends.

Vice President of Events

Cockrell School of Engineering

Alex Choi

Alex is a Computational Engineering major at UT Austin with a deep interest in the intersection of physics-based simulation, machine learning, and energy systems. He is currently interning at KLA, where he is modernizing wafer target optimization software and helping build an internal LLM-driven recipe generator for semiconductor process control. At UT, he conducts research in the CLeAR Lab on real-time deep learning adaptation for robotic systems and works with the PHO-ICES group on optimization problems involving dynamical systems. He will also begin new research on finite element simulations of the Navier-Stokes equations for physics-based modeling. Alex is particularly interested in nuclear energy, computational fluid dynamics, and the role of AI in accelerating innovation in energy and manufacturing. He serves as Vice President of Events for the Longhorn Energy Club and is passionate about building technical bridges between energy research and real-world impact.

Vice President of Events

College of Liberal Arts

William Citizen

William is an undergraduate student majoring in Economics and minoring in Energy Studies. He is an active member of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center Student Advisory Council, which provides him with ample exposure to opportunities to learn and grow within the energy industry. He is passionate about energy economics and green hydrogen, a growing renewable energy carrier created through electrochemical processes that can be used in a variety of industries and applications. In the future, William strives to become an energy economist, leveraging both fossil fuels and renewable energy to improve energy accessibility and affordability globally. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading Star Wars novels, practicing calisthenics, and long-distance running.

Vice President of Marketing

School of Information

Shamiya Lin

Shamiya is an undergraduate Informatics major with a concentration in Human-Centered Data Science. She is involved with the UT Real Estate Center and the Longhorn Energy Club. She is especially interested in how energy systems integrate with real estate development, particularly in areas like ESG strategy, infrastructure planning, and building efficiency. Her work spans institutional ownership research, site due diligence, and energy analytics, with a focus on how sustainability and data can drive better long-term decisions.

Vice President of External Relations

Cockrell School of Engineering

Cecilia Castillo

Cecilia is an undergraduate student majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a focus on Software and Data Analytics and minoring in Global Sustainability Leadership. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of energy systems, sustainability, and data science. She currently interns at Siemens as a Grid Software Technical Consultant, where she develops interactive models to analyze regional power supply and pricing forecasts, supporting scenario planning and reliability assessments. On campus, Cecilia founded and leads the Sustainability Team for the Longhorn Racing Electric car, focusing on resource tracking and grant acquisitions for energy-efficient technologies. She also serves on UT's Green Fund Committee and is part of the TexUS Lab where she collaborates with the City of Austin to research the impacts of extreme weather on urban systems using dynamic modeling. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, playing guitar, and practicing yoga.

Vice President of External Relations

LBJ School of Public Affairs

Sofia Mendoza

Sofia is a Master of Global Policy Studies candidate at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, where she focuses on the intersection of energy policy, international security, and global markets. As a TEX-E Fellow, she is part of a network shaping the future of clean energy and climate entrepreneurship in Texas. Her research interests span energy security and how energy accessibility can serve as a tool for diplomacy, conflict prevention, and economic resilience. She is currently a Policy Research Intern at Good Energy Collective, where she contributes to forward-looking federal and international nuclear policy. She is especially passionate about how equitable access to energy infrastructure can underpin long-term peace and development in regions emerging from instability. Outside of her academic and policy work, Sofia is an avid reader, recreational athlete, and podcast enthusiast who values spending time with friends and family.  

Vice President of External Relations

Cockrell School of Engineering

Kamp Davis

Kamp Davis is an undergraduate student majoring in Petroleum Engineering with a Business minor. With a strong passion for the intersection of energy and finance, Kamp is actively pursuing a career in energy investment banking, where he hopes to help lead the energy transition through financial strategy and advisory work. On campus, Kamp is involved in several academic and professional organizations, including the Longhorn Banking Group, Society of Petroleum Engineers, the University Finance Association, and Club Golf. Through these groups, he continues to develop his understanding of both the technical and financial aspects of the energy industry, while also mentoring younger students and building relationships with professionals across sectors. Outside of school, Kamp enjoys playing golf, watching sports, and spending time with friends.

Vice President of Sponsorships

College of Liberal Arts

Angel Zepeda

Angel is an undergraduate majoring in Economics with a minor in Computer Science. He is a TEX-E Innovation Fellow and is actively involved in the startup and climate tech communities. Angel has founded and worked with early-stage startups, where he’s led growth strategy, developed internal tools, and built app features from the ground up. He combines technical skills in data analysis, financial modeling, and coding with a passion for helping ventures scale. He aspires to pursue a career at the intersection of entrepreneurship and technology-driven innovation.

Vice President of Sponsorships

Cockrell School of Engineering

Ethan Rho

Jong Hyun (Ethan) is a PhD Candidate in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, advised by Dr. Michael Baldea. His research focuses on modeling, control, and optimization of electrified process heating in the chemical industry, with a specific focus on ethylene cracking. Ethan is interested in the energy market and emerging technologies and wishes to contribute to the energy sector with his modeling and chemical engineering skills. Before joining UT, Ethan graduated from Seoul National University with a B.S. in Chemical and Biological Engineering and worked as a research engineer at Samsung SDI.  In his free time, he enjoys playing the electric guitar, listening to rock music, and watching stand-up comedies.

Vice President of Sponsorships

Cockrell School of Engineering

Thomas LaMotte

Thomas is an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering major with a focus on Energy Systems Engineering and Sustainable Engineering. His academic interests lie in the energy market and emerging renewable energy technologies. Thomas has interned with Nexus PMG, a low-carbon infrastructure and engineering advisory firm focused on scaling energy and recycling facilities. On campus, he is involved with the Longhorn Energy Club and the Longhorn Rocketry Association. He is passionate about leadership and the environment, and aims to pursue a career in the new energy space. Outside of school, Thomas is interested in fitness, film, hiking and spending time with family.

Vice President of Socials

Cockrell School of Engineering

Zachary Hayes

Zachary Hayes is an undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Engineering and looking to specialize in climate and energy. Last summer he interned at Chevron and this fall he is on the student leadership board of UT Outpost and a Regional President of Climate Cardinals. Professionally he looks forward to exploring his interests in corporate sustainability, renewable energy, and greenhouse gasses. In his free time he likes to go thrifting, hiking, or anywhere that involves an adventure.

Vice President of Socials

College of Natural Sciences

Sydney Vest

Sydney is a rising senior studying Mathematics with a minor in Risk Management and a certificate in German. She is involved with Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) and the Longhorn Energy Club. As VP of Socials, she is passionate about making the Longhorn Energy Club a welcoming space for students from all backgrounds, especially those outside of business. Sydney is passionate about investment management, financial markets, data analytics, and climate solutions, and she aspires to pursue a career in the financial services industry where she can help drive progress at the intersection of finance and energy. Outside of school, she enjoys hanging with her friends, traveling, fitness, and solving puzzles.

Vice President of Professional Development

McCombs School of Business

Abhinandan Sharma

Abhi is a second-year MBA student at the McCombs School of Business. He holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and previously worked at a refinery of an Indian Oil and Gas major, where he managed roles across electrical operations, maintenance, and project execution. His work involved active engagement with India’s electricity markets and leading efforts to meet the refinery’s renewable energy targets. At McCombs, Abhi’s interests span supply chain strategy, carbon emissions reporting, and energy finance. As a CleanTech Fellow, he partnered with an Austin-based engineering firm to conduct a renewable energy market sizing study, and he is currently interning in supply chain strategy at an industrial automation company. Abhi is passionate about bridging technical expertise with financial insight to enable sustainable energy transitions. Outside of class, he enjoys swimming, hiking, and watching soccer.

Vice President of Professional Development

Cockrell School of Engineering

Jihun Jeong

Jihun is a PhD candidate in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering advised by Dr. Michael Baldea. His research focuses on process modeling and the operational optimization of industrial systems, with an emphasis on low-carbon ironmaking technologies. Prior to UT, Jihun gained industry experience in consumer product goods and gas manufacturing, and earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University, where he worked on catalysis research for sustainable fuel production. He is passionate about the energy transition and industrial decarbonization, and aims to contribute through his pursuits in process systems engineering. Outside of school, Jihun enjoys exploring nature, relaxing in a hammock, and strumming the ukulele.

Vice President of Communications

LBJ School of Public Affairs

Andrew Igdal

Hailing from the foothills of North Carolina, Andrew is a PhD student in Public Policy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. He is part of the Webber Energy group where he researches quantifying the costs and benefits of transmission infrastructure. His academic interests include grid expansion and modernization, beneficial electrification, and general equilibrium modeling of energy cooperation in a southeast asian context.  His focus is on energy infrastructure and efficiency in the United States because he believes Americans deserve the cheapest, cleanest, and most reliable energy system on the planet. He is currently an intern at ERCOT as part of the economic analysis and long term studies team. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys reading, writing, playing basketball, and spending time with friends.

Vice President of Communications

Moody College of Communications

Jeremy McMahan

Jeremy is an undergraduate Journalism major in the Moody College of Communications. He is from Austin, Texas, and is very interested in the growth of the Texas energy industry. At UT, he has been involved in communication roles with college athletics.