Michot Foss joins Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies

Michelle Michot Foss, an economist and political scientist who has held leadership positions in energy and environmental research, consulting and investment banking, has been named a fellow in energy and minerals in the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, the institute announced Oct. 9. She will help lead a new initiative that will focus on an improved understanding of non-fuel minerals resource development issues, opportunities and constraints and the requisite impact on energy markets and geopolitics.

MICHELLE MICHOT FOSS

Over the past three decades, Michot Foss directed research on energy value chain economics and commercial frameworks to support energy investment worldwide while serving in various positions at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Houston. She recently retired as chief energy economist and head of the Bureau of Economic Geology’s Center for Energy Economics.

As a UH Shell Interdisciplinary Scholar, Michot Foss was awarded grants for research on North American gas and power integration and national oil companies. She led a university-based liquefied natural gas industry consortium for North America.

In addition, Michot Foss implemented energy development assistance and engagement programs sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources in more than 20 countries and regions, including Central Asia, Ukraine, West Africa, Uganda, India, Bangladesh and Mexico.

“Every advanced design for both conventional and alternative energy technology design that would enhance performance and efficiency of energy systems involves some combination of critical minerals. Michelle has the experience analyzing the interplay of markets, politics and geopolitics to lead our research into the interplay of minerals and energy,” said Ken Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies.

Michot Foss’ appointment is part of an ongoing expansion of the Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies, which is ranked No. 1 among the world’s energy- and resource-policy think tanks according to the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program’s 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. The center provides policymakers, corporate leaders and the public with high-quality, data-driven analysis of issues that influence energy markets.

Michot Foss remains an executive instructor for the Texas Executive Education program at UT’s McCombs School of Business. She is a past president of the International Association for Energy Economics and the U.S. Association for Energy Economics (USAEE) and was named a USAEE Senior Fellow for service. She is a partner in Harvest Gas Management LLC.

Michot Foss received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a master’s degree in economics from Colorado School of Mines and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Houston.