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SMU Promotes New Chief Innovation Officer

Plus, Old City Park hires new COO; Southwestern Asset Management names new division president; and more.
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Southern Methodist University

Suku Nair, Vice Provost for Research and Chief Innovation Officer

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Suku Nair

Suku Nair has been teaching and researching at SMU for more than 30 years. He will assume his new inaugural role Dec. 1, after serving as associate provost for research ad interim since June. Nair is a University Distinguished Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department in the Lyle School of Engineering and founding director of the AT&T Center for Virtualization at SMU. He is also the founder of the cybersecurity program.

EDUCATION: University of Illinois at Urbana (PhD, M.S.)


Old City Park

Sarah Crain, Chief Operating Officer

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Sarah Crain

Sarah Crain has been a part of Old City Park since 2019, when she was hired as director of engagement. She was promoted to deputy director in 2021—her most recent role. Prior to joining Old City Park, she was enrichment coordinator at North Texas nonprofit Vogel Alcove.  

EDUCATION:  The University of Texas at Arlington (M.A., B.A.)


Southwestern Capital Markets

Michael Whitney, President and Managing Member

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Michael Whitney

In his new role, Whitney will oversee and grow Southwestern’s distribution firm, Southwestern Capital Markets. He will also join Southwestern Asset Management’s board of directors and Southwestern’s Alternative Investment Committee. In his new role, Whitney will grow the distribution division, while leading SwAM’s current distribution efforts and building his team. Whitney will also lead national accounts and wholesale distribution as Southwestern grows its brand and asset investment offerings.

EDUCATION: University of Illinois at Urbana (B.A.)


Valor

Nathaniel Walter, Senior Mineral Manager

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Nathaniel Walter

Prior to joining Valor, Nathaniel Walter served as an oil and gas closing manager for JPMorgan Chase, honing his skills in the administrative and operational aspects of specialty asset management over more than eight years. Before that, he was a land technician at Oasis Petroleum. Valor has oversight of 8.4 million gross acres and 450,000 net royalty acres of mineral and property rights in 32 states.

EDUCATION:  Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design (B.A.)


U.S. Energy Development Corp.

Aaron Thesman, Attorney

Aaron Thesman’s experience includes providing strategic guidance on various commercial, ESG, litigation, and business matters including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Prior to joining Arlington-based U.S. Energy, Thesman was the vice president of land and general counsel for 1849 Energy Partners. He also previously served as senior vice president of land and general counsel for Trinity River Energy.

EDUCATION: The University of Oklahoma (J.D.), Oklahoma State University (M.S., B.A.)

Authors

Briana L. Musgrove

Briana L. Musgrove

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Kelsey Vanderschoot

Kelsey Vanderschoot

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Kelsey J. Vanderschoot came to Dallas by way of Napa, Los Angeles, and Madrid, Spain. A former teacher, she joined…
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