Tulane has received a $1.5 million gift from alumnus Bill Templeton and his family that will enhance hands-on learning opportunities and fuel continued innovation at the Tulane Energy Institute.
The gift will position the institute as a national leader in preparing students for high-impact careers across the energy sector and related fields. It will establish the Templeton Family Energy Endowed Fund and help the Freeman School expand energy-related curricular programs, foster new industry partnerships and professional networks, increase hands-on training for students, and promote opportunities for graduates to launch careers.
In recognition of the gift, the Freeman School’s state-of-the-art trading center in the Goldring/ Woldenberg Business Complex will be named the William M. Templeton Trading Center. Designed to simulate a commercial trading floor, the trading center is a hub of experiential learning, featuring the latest technology in global markets and giving students immersive, real-world experience in portfolio modeling, commodity trading and energy analytics.
“Tulane is where long-range vision and practical, experiential learning meet,” said Templeton, who earned both a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s in business administration from Tulane in 1973. “The Tulane Energy Institute equips students with the knowledge, skills and industry exposure they need to thrive in the energy sector immediately upon graduation as well as in fields like finance, technology and consulting. This gift is about shaping the next generation of leaders across these interconnected industries.”
Bill Templeton is the founder of DCOR LLC, an offshore oil and gas production company based in Oxnard, California.
An entrepreneur and founder of DCOR LLC, an offshore oil and gas production company in Oxnard, California, and the largest oil and gas operator off the coast of California, Templeton joined his wife, Stephanie, and sons Alan and Ryan in making the gift. Alan Templeton (BSM ’02) is president and chief executive officer of DCOR and serves on the Tulane Energy Institute’s Advisory Council. Ryan Templeton is a DCOR board member and the founder and CEO of Templeton Development LLC of Florida, a real estate development company. Stephanie Templeton is the founder and manager of Castle Peak Ranch, a large ranching operation in Texas and Colorado.
“This isn’t just a boost — it’s a launchpad,” Freeman School Dean Paulo Goes said of the gift. “Bill Templeton’s vision and generosity will help us scale our programs, deepen industry ties and give our students a competitive edge in one of the world’s most complex and fast-evolving industries.”
Founded in 2004, the Tulane Energy Institute is an interdisciplinary unit that consolidates faculty expertise in the study of energy, including fossil fuels and renewable sources, across finance, accounting, marketing, management and legal studies. Its programs — including a new undergraduate energy certificate and the one-year Master of Management in Energy — equip students to thrive at the intersection of business strategy and energy innovation. The institute is also a key participant in the university’s annual Future of Energy Forum.
“This is a moment of acceleration, and this gift is a gamechanger,” said Pierre Conner, the Tulane Energy Institute’s executive director. “The Templeton Family Energy Endowed Fund will allow us to expand and enhance the kinds of real-world experiences that set our students apart — from working on industry-sponsored projects to mastering advanced tools used across the sector.”
Funding will suppor t improvements to the William M. Templeton Trading Center and provide additional experiential learning options. The endowed fund will also provide sustained support for future generations of Tulanians, giving Tulane Energy Insitute leadership the flexibility to strengthen student-focused programs and respond to the evolving demands of the energy sector.
