Michael Maher

About Michael Maher

Views expressed on LinkedIn are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Rice University. I joined the Center for Energy Studies (CES) at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in July 2013. CES focuses:(i) Global Oil;(ii) Global Natural Gas,(ii) Energy and Geopolitics - Latin America, Middle East, and Eurasia,(iv) Energy and Transportation,(v) Electricity Policy,(vi) Environment and Sustainability,(vii) Water and Energy, Minerals and Material. As Chief of Research Operations, I review all of the CES publications for content and clarity, focus on public outreach for the CES, communicates about its key research studies as well as hosting energy discussions with delegations from government and industry at the Institute. I also analyze US energy policy. During my over thirty years with ExxonMobil prior to joining CES, I held assignments as a professional economist in Corporate Planning; positions in the upstream and in natural gas marketing and in the supply department that served U.S. refineries. As a member of Public & Government Affairs for thirteen years, I coordinated P & GA work related to LNG projects in the U.S. and abroad; served as Public Affairs Manager for the Marine Well Containment Project; and as Upstream Issues Advisor focused on natural gas, LNG exports and offshore safety policies.At Rice, I am a co-founder, former Chair (2012-16) and still a member of the Alumni Advisory Board for the Center for Career Development. The Board is focusing on increasing alumni networking with students as they prepare for their post-Rice careers. I am a former-member and Chair of the Advisory Board of the School of Social Sciences and a Community Associate of Martel. I was a member of the Board of the Association of Rice Alumni from 2017-20. In 2022, I became a member of the Board of Affiliates for Masters of Energy Economics and Masters of Global Affairs programs at Rice. In 2025, I help found and lead the Peter Hartley Future Energy Leaders initiative, a CES-led campus-wide engagement opportunity for graduate students in energy-related studies to network with established energy professionals. In 2026, I became Chair of Alumni and Associate Affairs for Rice Economics Forum, a student-run organization. For over 10 years, I have volunteered as a mentor to Rice undergrads, grad students and alums as they prepare for the job market as well as non-Rice grads at various stages of their careers. I am honored to receive the 2026 Laureates Award for Meritorious Service from the Association of Rice Alumni.

Experience

1. Chief of Research Operations

   Baker Institute Center For Energy Studies Ces

   Jan 2025 — Present

Education

• Rice University

  Ph.D., Economics

  1975 — 1980

• Rice University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Economics

  1971 — 1975

Skills

• Natural Gas and Lng
• Energy
• Government
• Media Relations
• Upstream
• Mentoring of Rice Students and Recent Graduates
• Petroleum
• Corporate Communications
• Community Outreach
• Public Policy Analysis
• Strategic Planning
• Policy Analysis
• Corporate Economist
• Offshore Drilling
• Natural Gas
• Public Policy
• Strategic Communications
• Lng
• Natural Gas Policy
• Policy