Steve Long has served as director of the Robert M. Zinke Energy Management Program for a dozen years, after a long and successful career as an energy executive around the globe. A loyal OU alumnus, Long joined the Price College of Business team in 2006, following several years with PFC Energy. From 1977 until 1986, he worked for Gulf Oil Corp. as a business administrative trainee, financial analyst, senior budget analyst and manager of international economics and finance. After his years with Gulf Oil, he served in various capacities at Enron Corp., where he was eventually named director of international business development. Long left Enron in 1996 to begin work for Unocal Corp., where he was vice president of development for South America for two years. In 1998, he assumed a similar role in West Africa, and in 2000, was named vice president of development for North America. He began work for Washington, D.C.-based PFC Energy in 2002.
Steve Long to Retire as Director of Zinke Energy Management Program
“For over a decade, OU Energy Management students have benefitted from the guidance and encouragement of Steve Long,” said Price College Dean Daniel W. Pullin. “During his leadership of the Robert M. Zinke Energy Management Program, Steve grew the program's size and rigor by advancing enhanced experiential learning programs in Oklahoma, Washington D.C., New York and the U.K. Likewise, he cultivated a wider array of industry collaborators that worked with our world-class faculty to invigorate the curriculum and learning outcomes for our students. Importantly, Steve's leadership was instrumental in the capital campaign to support the program’s 60th Anniversary, resulting in a permanent endowment to cover the program's core operations for future generations.”
Robert M. Zinke, the program’s namesake, also shared his thoughts on Steve’s tenure as director.
“Steve has been a total blessing for our program,” Zinke said. “His consummate leadership and guidance resulted in our program clearly maintaining its status as the best-in-class Energy Management Program. He also introduced and executed on many expansive aspects of the program, always focusing on industry connectivity. OU’s Energy Management community will always be greatly indebted to Steve for his tenure as our Program Director.”
During his career with his alma mater, Long has overseen the graduation of nearly 900 Energy Management students who benefitted from his mentorship and invaluable network of fellow energy leaders. Maintaining relationships with his former students is a key component in Long’s success, and alum Alisha Stacy (2012) extended admiration for his help.
“Steve has had such a positive impact on OU’s Energy Management Program in many different ways,” she said. “He went out of his way to help me find my first internship, despite having no prior work experience. That internship was a springboard for what has become an exciting and fulfilling career. I have Steve to thank for that, and for bringing his energy and dedication to our program. We all do. His efforts will resonate for many years and careers to come.”
In grateful appreciation of Steve Long’s transformative leadership at Price College, an energy management student experiential fund has been endowed in his name. Please consider joining your fellow alumni and friends in honoring Long by making an online gift.
If you prefer to contribute by check (made payable to the OU Foundation, reference fund #42675), please mail to the address below:
OU Price College of Business
Office of External Relations
Attn.: Kristen Lazalier, Executive Director
307 W. Brooks St., Ste. 105
Norman, OK 73019-4007
