Managing Director of Partnerships and Engagement
Lisa Hernandez serves as Managing Director of Partnerships and Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin Energy Institute. In this role, she leads strategic initiatives that advance the Institute’s mission through stakeholder engagement, external partnerships, events, communications, and fundraising support. She works across the university to strengthen collaboration among colleges, schools, and research units while cultivating relationships with industry, philanthropic, government, community, and academic partners that support energy innovation, education, and research.
Lisa develops and stewards strategic relationships that connect faculty, students, researchers, and industry leaders around critical energy challenges and opportunities. She leads the planning and execution of the Energy Institute’s signature events and programs, including Energy Week, Hydrogen Day, EnergizeUT, and the Global Solar Power Forum, helping elevate UT’s visibility as a leader in energy research, education, and innovation.
She brings deep experience in partnership development, stakeholder engagement, and program leadership. Prior to joining the Energy Institute, she led events and development initiatives in the nonprofit and public sectors, established sponsorship programs that significantly increased organizational support, and developed a sustainable public housing program that created lasting community impact. Her work has consistently focused on fostering meaningful collaborations and advancing initiatives that benefit communities and organizations alike.
Contact Lisa Hernandez: lisa@energy.utexas.edu