Jack Balagia ’76 has been named the new executive director of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center, bringing a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience from his distinguished career in the energy and legal sectors.

Balagia was on the legal team at Exxon Mobil Corp. for nearly two decades, including serving as vice president and general counsel from 2010 until his retirement in 2016. As general counsel, he led a global law department of 450 lawyers and 350 support professionals across 31 offices worldwide. During his time at Exxon Mobil, Balagia played a key role in guiding the company through a wide range of legal challenges, from litigation and regulatory compliance to corporate governance.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison served as the U.S. Ambassador to NATO from 2017–2021, where she championed U.S. leadership in the Alliance and worked to strengthen the transatlantic bond between Europe and North America. From 1993 to 2013, Senator Hutchison represented Texas in the U.S. Senate, where she chaired the Republican Policy Committee. She also served two terms as Chair of the Board of Visitors at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Senator Hutchison is the author of three books, and serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Energy Advisory Council. In 2013, the Dallas City Council named the city’s convention center in her honor, while her alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin, named its Energy Center in recognition of her leadership and service. Senator Hutchison is also a recipient of The University of Texas Presidential Citation, the highest honor bestowed by the University. She earned both her B.A. and J.D. from The University of Texas at Austin.

Jennifer serves as Executive Director of the KBH Energy Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

We are delighted to officially introduce Jennifer Sloan as the newly appointed Managing Director of The Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center. As Managing Director of the Center, Jennifer will play a pivotal leadership role with responsibility for the development and execution of key strategic initiatives. In addition, her responsibilities will include overseeing fundraising and development efforts, managing all Center events, and fostering collaboration with our councils to enhance the Center’s standing both within the University and the broader energy industry. We also want to thank Mari Myers for her outstanding service as Managing Director. Mari has been a dedicated leader and has significantly contributed to our Center’s growth and accomplishments over the past six years. Please join us in congratulating Jennifer and thanking Mari! As we look to the future, we are excited by Jennifer’s appointment and how it will help us further elevate all we do.