CBME Alumna Laura Lopez Receives 2020 Regents Alumni Award

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The University of Oklahoma Regents' Alumni Awards honor individuals, either alumni or friends of the University of Oklahoma, who have given generously of their time and services to the University. Recipients are honored each year, receive a plaque and have their names added to a permanent plaque in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

Laura Lopez earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 2006. She entered OU with a strong academic and leadership record having been honored as one of Yukon High School’s Valedictorians. As an engineering student, Laura rose as a leader on campus and in the College of Engineering activities beginning her freshman year in Engineers’ Club, which serves all engineering students. 

As a freshman, she served as Open House Chair and Casino Night Chair. As a sophomore, she served as 2nd Vice President coordinating the game day hamburger feed fundraisers. Her Junior year, she served as Engineers’ Week Chair and as a senior, Engineers’ Club President. She was involved in AISES and AiChe, the student society for Chemical Engineers and served as a Chevron Phillips Scholar Mentor. She was elected to St. Pat’s Council, an engineering service honor her senior year. She was named Outstanding Chemical Engineering Senior and her undergraduate research group was selected as Outstanding Group in Design.

After University, Laura has continued to excel in her career as well as in her service to the University. In her career, she leads a cross-discipline leadership team and 25 subsurface professionals to deliver production and the future strategic investments for the Na Kika Deepwater Development and Paleogene Assets for BP in the Gulf of Mexico. She also continues to give back and advocate for the University of Oklahoma. She served as OU Campus champion and lead recruiter for BP from 2009-2019, interacting with faculty, staff and students in Gallogly College of Engineering, Price College of Business and the Honors College. She advocates for OU student interns and new hires at BP.

Laura has frequently been a speaker in classes and student organization events on professional development and technical topics. She serves as a leadership mentor to Holmes Leadership Associate students and is active in Women in Engineering activities. She engages with students in the Diversity and Inclusion program giving presentations, mentoring, and providing encouragement and support to students and staff.

As a young couple, she and her husband Ben, also an engineering graduate and BP engineer, lead their peers as major donors, giving back to students and programs. They have established a family scholarship and have supported Diversity and Inclusion programs and students. They are Felgar Society Members and are active in their alumni engineering community. They’ve also joined with other alumni to support a room in the new Gallogly Hall Diversity and Inclusion office space. They attend Houston area alumni networking events and host students who make visits to the area.

Today, Laura lives in Houston, TX with her husband Ben and two daughters. Together, they enjoy camping, hiking, and of course, OU football! Laura is proud to be an OU Alumnus and advocate for the University of Oklahoma. 

View the entire Regents' Alumni Ceremony or start at 07:28 to hear Assoc. Dean Randa Shehab make the virtual presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKBWRTn9my8&feature=youtu.be.

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