LU alum, bp America president Orlando Alvarez kicks off College of Business speaker series
ذكذكتسئµ University’s Landes Auditorium was packed Tuesday, Feb. 18 as Orlando Alvarez, chairman and president of bp America, returned to his alma mater to speak at the College of Business’ Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series. Alvarez, a 2022 Distinguished Alumnus, shared insights on the energy transition, climate challenges, and his ذكذكتسئµ from a first-generation college student to a leader in the energy industry. 
Alvarez, a native of Santa Clara, Cuba, detailed his 37-year career in energy supply and trading, reflecting on the impact ذكذكتسئµ University had on his path.
“I remember being in this class in 1987, and I’ve got a lot of love for this university. To me, it’s pretty special,” he said. “I came here as a Cuban refugee. My family didn’t have much. My brother and I were first-generation college students, and ذكذكتسئµ was the perfect fit—close to Houston, affordable, and full of hardworking students like us. That’s the culture of ذكذكتسئµ. We have to be proud of it. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is—ذكذكتسئµ will always be ذكذكتسئµ.”
Since graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance in 1987, Alvarez has held several leadership roles in the energy sector. Before assuming his current position at bp America in September 2023, he served as President and CEO of BP Energy Company for over a decade and previously held executive roles in North American gas trading and supply.
As Chairman and President of bp America, he oversees 40,000 employees in the United States. He also highlighted BP’s global presence, which includes 90,000 employees, and addressed the company’s response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, which cost BP $67.2 billion. Alvarez emphasized BP’s focus on safety, competitiveness, and adapting to new administrations, as well as its investments in renewable energy, particularly bioenergy and the acquisition of Archaea, the largest producer of renewable natural gas in the U.S.
Dr. Joby John, Dean of the College of Business, expressed his gratitude for Alvarez’s ongoing involvement with the university. “Orlando has become a friend of ours, a friend of mine. He’s a passionate leader, and his loyalty to this institution is incredible. He’s given back so much of his time, and we need to be grateful for that,” John said.
John also noted that the Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series aims to bring industry leaders to campus multiple times a year.
“Our goal is to host three to four of these events annually, featuring professionals from various fields to inspire and educate our students,” he said.
The event, which was open to the public, offered students, faculty, and community members the opportunity to engage with a prominent industry leader and gain valuable insights into the future of energy and climate policy.
For more information about upcoming events at ذكذكتسئµ University’s College of Business, visit /business/index.html.