Miriam Crouse

About Miriam Crouse

My name is Miriam Crouse, and I\'m from Lake Village, AR. Lake Village is a small town of about 2300 people. I often make people wonder how I ended up where I am-Austin, Petroleum Engineering, etc-being from a place that isn\'t even on a road map. I am lucky to have parents who prioritized education. When I was in eighth grade, my parents presented the opportunity of boarding school to my sisters and me. Freshman year to senior year I boarded at The Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN. Other than being strides above the quality of education I would have gotten in Arkansas, Baylor exposed me to people, places and perspectives I never would have found if I stayed in Arkansas. The outdoors program at Baylor opened me up to my love of nature. I started to appreciate the planet in a new way. This was around the start of climate change and global warming conversations. I became very invested in the research of what affects the state of the environment. The Earth sparks conversations about politics, economics and religion and how they are connected back to the Earth. Since I was 16, I have been invested in having and initiating these conversations. In an effort to figure out how to achieve something noteworthy, I landed on petroleum engineering which subsequently led me to Austin, TX. I have been so lucky to have been presented with the opportunities UT has given me. Most recently, I have added a minor in Sustainable Energy to my degree plan. I am involved in the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the American Association of Drilling Engineers. With my time at UT, I want to take the opportunities available for me to make my perspectives as well rounded as possible. I am currently on track the pre-law track where I hope to work as an energy attorney. I want to aid in the transition the energy industry is inevitably facing. I don\'t believe that the oil and gas industry will dissipate in this lifetime. I think it is the cornerstone in which our society depends on. In the future, I would love to mediate discussions and debates coinciding with the integration of new energy practices. Open mindedness and optimism is what will move the industry forward to greater efficiency and sustainability. The path I have mapped out for myself is not permanent, and I am open to advice and suggestions. I have not chosen the most conventional path for a girl from a small town, but I am extremely grateful to be where I am, doing what I am doing. This career path is unmapped territory and through my educational journey to my career, I hope to inspire others to follow.

Experience

1. Incoming Law Clerk

   Vinson & Elkins

   Apr 2026 — Present · Houston, TX, US