Amy Blackburn

Director of Communications

Starting in late 2022, Amy Blackburn is the Director of Communications at the Hamm Institute for American Energy. Previously, she was the Director of the Marketing and Communications Division at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. She also served concurrently as the Director of State Branding with Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell. She joined the state in 2020 and served on the Governor's Solutions Task Force for the COVID-19 pandemic alongside implementing several CARES projects including the remodeling of Oklahoma Tourist Information Centers and digital transformation initiatives for state agency websites.

She joined the state from over 15 years in advertising at local, regional, national and international agencies where she worked on marketing campaigns and strategy for companies such as Volkswagen, 7-Eleven, Chesapeake Energy, Promotional Products Association International, and the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. She is a fourth-generation graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Journalism with a focus on Public Relations.

Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, Jeff, and daughter, Everly. She is on the board for Free to Live, a no-kill animal sanctuary in Oklahoma and also serves on the Marketing Advisory Board for Rose State College. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, playing golf, and spending time with her dogs, Doug, Walter and Bullet.

Hannah Whorton

Energy Policy Analyst

hannah.whorton@hamminstitute.org

Starting in Summer 2022, Hannah Whorton is an Energy Policy Analyst at the Hamm Institute for American Energy. In this role, Hannah engages in energy policy research while also managing operational responsibilities for the institute. Hannah graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Tulsa in May 2022 with a B.S. in Geosciences with a Geology emphasis and a minor in Energy Management.

Throughout her time as a TU student, she served as a Peer Mentor and Orientation Leader, a University Ambassador, Vice President and Member Educator of her sorority, Director of TU’s broadcast news team, and a member of TU’s Student Chapter of American Institute of Professional Geologists. Hannah also attended a South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Geologic Field Camp during Summer 2021 where she spent six weeks exploring the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming to sharpen her field skills and solidify her foundational knowledge of geology.

Hannah enjoys spending time with friends in OKC and family back in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In her spare time, she enjoys trying new recipes, listening to music and podcasts, and taking advantage of any opportunity to be outside, especially hiking or on the lake, with family and friends.