Nikole Merritt Walston - Director Engineering at Valero Energy Corporation

EDUCATION:  Cypress Creek High School - 1991 Texas A&M University, BS in Mechanical Engineering University of Texas - Dallas, MBA

My favorite college memories are that I had great summer internships in upstream (2) and chemicals (1). I have worked in downstream since graduation for Fina/Total and Valero in maintenance support engineering, capital projects, planning/economics, and operations in positions of increasing responsibility. I am currently director of a refinery's engineering department. The SPE-GCS scholarship provide me with great encouragement to pursue oil and gas industry. My advice to students is that Petrochemicals is a thriving business with plentiful opportunities for top talent.