First student to moderate a panel at Tulane Future of Energy Forum credits professors with sparking her interest in the field

When Tulane University senior Samantha Oblon attended her first energy class, she was a sophomore and the youngest student in the room. Like most undergraduates, she came to Tulane without prior background in the energy sector.

"I was curious and figured that I would attend a few classes to see if it resonated with me," she recalls.

One hour and 15 minutes after that class began, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in the industry.

"I found the content so challenging, so dynamic, so thrilling, so interesting and complex that I found myself drawn to overcoming the learning curve," she said.

Now, Oblon is about to become the first-ever student to moderate a panel at the Tulane Future of Energy Forum, where she and others will share their vision of how the energy industry will unfold over the coming years.

Oblon, who is majoring in business management with a minor in accounting while also pursuing a Certificate in Energy, will moderate the "Distributed Energy Resources and Community Resilience" panel with industry and community leaders at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Her professors were the spark that lit her interest in the field. They include Pierre Conner, executive director of the Tulane Energy Institute and professor of practice in management science. He taught that first class that made such an impression on Oblon and charted the course for her future studies and work in energy. Conner describes her as an impressive student who "takes advantage of all Tulane has to offer."

"The professors at Tulane and the energy professors make your Tulane experience," Oblon said. "They're fantastic and they're the reason I am going into energy."

During the session Oblon will moderate, panelists will explore how distributed energy resources - including solar, storage and microgrids - are improving resilience in communities. Speakers will also examine ways to strengthen reliability, support emergency response and improve affordability.

It's a topic Oblon spent time researching last summer, during her internship at FTI Consulting in New York City. She credits Tulane energy finance professor Marshall Carver for his course on financial modeling in the energy sector, which helped her prepare for the opportunity. During a previous internship, she worked as a private equity analyst at Energy Capital Partners in New York, where she researched energy markets and evaluated potential investment opportunities.

"I hope that by moderating this panel, it helps attract first-year students and sophomores to pursue Tulane's Energy Certificate," she said.

She also hopes that "other students see that anything is possible and when you're passionate about something and you have drive and passion and you put in the work, you can do it," she said.

The key is having a strong support system, "and that's why I am so grateful for our energy professors at Tulane," she added. "I hope I make them proud. Tulane means so much to me. Tulane really is part of who I am, and I welcome any chance I have to represent the school, to give back."

She also hopes her participation at the forum will encourage other students to get involved in the Tulane Energy Club and take energy classes as soon as possible.

Oblon is president of the Tulane Energy Club, which has seen dramatic growth under her leadership, expanding from five undergraduate members to 75 in just two years.

"It's a family, it's a community and it's a support system," she said, adding that graduate students in the club mentor undergraduates with the goal of creating the same passion for the field that Oblon developed at Tulane. "It brings me so much joy to see the impact the Energy Club is having on the overall student body."

About 50 students will serve as volunteers at this year's Future of Energy Forum, said Kyle Huber, senior director of Campus Engagement & Experience.

The forum showcases energy research at Tulane and emerging trends across the industry.

"We also want to promote how great our students are too. If we are going to jump in headfirst with having students really involved such as leading a panel, she is the one who can do it," Huber said.

For a student interested in the energy industry, her own energy seems boundless.

Oblon is a student representative for the Tulane Energy Institute and works closely with the faculty in Tulane's A. B. Freeman School of Business to support events, moderate panels and represent Tulane's energy programs.

She's a mentor and tutor for several students in the business school and is chapter vice president and director of consulting for TAMID at Tulane, which works with international startup companies. She also sits on the leadership board for the Tulane Consulting Group and teaches swim lessons for low-income families through the Swim-4-Success program.

Through Tulane's Energy Finance curriculum, Oblon also had the opportunity to work with the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy to assess the feasibility of deploying micronuclear reactors on Louisiana military bases.

Oblon said Tulane's course offerings allow students to apply financial modeling, trading, investment banking and consulting to the energy sector.

"This gives Tulane students a leg up on getting internships because we are gaining a contextual understanding and developing skills in corporate finance we can use right away," she said. "The opportunities at Tulane are endless. There are so many ways to get involved and challenge yourself."

This article is part of a series highlighting Tulane University energy experts and energy industry professionals ahead of Tulane University's 2026 Future of Energy Forum, which will take place Sept. 28-30. Learn more about the Future of Energy Forum or register for the free event .