Energy jobs surge as Freeman’s MME program welcomes largest class in a decade
Jobs in the energy sector are growing at twice the rate of the rest of the economy, with salaries that outpace most other industries, according to the U.S. Energy & Employment Report.
That demand is fueling increased interest in the field, reflected in the growing size of Freeman School of Business’s Master of Management in Energy (MME) program, which this fall welcomed its largest class in nearly a decade.
“When you think about it, everyone is involved in the energy industry in one way or another,” said Pierre Conner, professor of practice and executive director of the Tulane Energy Institute. “You’re either making, moving or using energy. And right now, the market is very strong for those looking to get involved.”
Conner said student interest in the MME stems largely from the program’s placement record. One hundred percent of the 2024 class had jobs within six months of graduation, and the 2025 cohort has nearly reached that level just four months after graduating.
“There are lots of great energy programs that are technical or legal, but at the Freeman School we’re also looking at energy from a business perspective,” Conner said.
In recent years, MME graduates have found employment with companies including ENFRA (formerly Bernhard), NextEra, Entergy, DCOR, Goldman Sachs, The Energy Authority, PHI Aviation/Q Investments, LG&E, Petroleum Fund Lesotho and ERM (Environmental Resources Management). Their roles range from equity analysts, traders and data scientists to sales associates, energy managers, compliance officers and consultants.
Katie Gemmell (MME ’24), now an energy analyst in ENFRA’s Baton Rouge office, leveraged Freeman’s Career Management Center industry connections to find her position. Gemmell initially began connecting with recruiters through ENFRA’s 360 Promise, an initiative that puts Tulane graduates into the company’s hiring pipeline. The 360 Promise is ENFRA's long-term commitment to hire 360 Tulane students over 30 years.
“I landed my current role through a combination of networking and persistence,” she said. “I first connected with ENFRA at the 360 Promise Reception and made it a priority to attend every event they hosted on campus. I also regularly checked ENFRA’s website for opportunities that matched my interests and skill set, which ultimately helped me secure the right position.”
While 22% of the 2025 cohort plans to remain in the New Orleans area post-graduation, global opportunities abound in the energy sector, with recent graduates finding work in Africa and South America.
“Employers say our energy students really understand the industry and start contributing on day one without the need for additional training,” said Mallory Asp, the career center’s assistant director.
