Finance Department > Energy Finance Center

    The Department of Finance has identified energy finance and financial risk management as key areas for innovative research and curriculum development.  Energy and capital markets are undergoing fundamental transformations that require the creation of new curriculum and research.  Moreover, there is a critical need to better prepare managers to understand, quantify, monitor, and manage the financial risks created by volatile energy prices, foreign exchange rates, and interest rates.

    To create the preeminent academic program in energy finance, The University of Texas has established the Center for Energy Finance Education and Research (CEFER) in the Department of Finance at the UT College and Graduate School of Business.  The Director of the Center is Dr. Ehud I. Ronn and the Associate Director is John C. Butler.

    The purpose of CEFER is to support curriculum development in corporate finance and financial risk management applied to energy and financial commodities as well as to support faculty development and research in the Department of Finance.  The Center is the focal point for the creation of the leading academic program in energy finance and financial risk management.

    The Center funds work by the Finance faculty on integrating theory and practice in the area of energy finance and the management of the financial risk associated with energy commodities into their curriculum.  A group of energy company executives assist the faculty in our Energy Finance Program. The Center also provides graduate fellowships to MBA and Ph.D. students in the Finance Department.

    The Center offers grants to Finance faculty to support their research on issues related to financial risk management, energy and capital markets, financial instruments, corporate finance, and financial services.  It acquires the databases necessary for both the curriculum and research needs.  Further, the Center periodically hosts seminars and symposia on cutting-edge energy finance and financial risk management topics.  Custom programs are also conducted through Executive Education.  Programs such as Managing Financial Risk in Gas and Power Companies and Valuation of Oil and Gas Contracts and Properties held in Houston, Texas.