The following article was originally published in the Fall 2026 issue of Ohio Ohio and Gas Association Drill Bit magazine and shared with permission by the editor.
Marietta and the surrounding region have a rich history of connection to energy development. Ohio's first oil-producing well was drilled nearby in 1814 while searching for salt brine, and one of the state's earliest commercial oil wells followed in 1860. More than two centuries later, the Appalachian Basin remains one of the world's leading natural gas-producing regions.
Marietta College has had a front-row seat through it all. From its early roots as Muskingum Academy in 1797 and charter in 1835, to the creation of its petroleum engineering program in 1946, the addition of land and energy management in 2014, and the launch of the Center for Earth, Energy and Environment (CEEE) in 2026—the College has grown alongside Ohio's energy sector.
Combining technical preparation, hands-on learning, and a liberal arts foundation, the CEEE serves as a hub for energy-focused programs including petroleum engineering, geology, environmental science, energy systems, and land and energy management. Together, these programs prepare students to address complex energy challenges and lead the future of energy in Ohio and beyond.
Discovering a New Career Path
But first, students must make their own discoveries—finding a career pathway that leads them to the industry. Many first-year students don’t realize the breadth of opportunities in a sector that employs more than 200,000 Ohio workers in well-paid positions and adds billions of dollars to Ohio’s economy.
Marietta College student Gunner Fox, a senior from New Concord, was one of those students. Growing up, he passed pump jacks almost every day and knew oil and gas jobs existed, but he knew little about the professional careers that power the field. During a campus visit to Marietta College while still in high school, he met Tina Thomas. Thomas directs the College's land and energy management program, which she describes as “essentially a management degree with a very technical concentration in fossil fuels, environment, law, land, geology and business.”
Big Opportunities at a Small College
Marietta College's program is one of only 10 undergraduate land management programs accredited by the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL). It is one of just two located in the Eastern United States and Appalachian Basin—and the only one offered at a small liberal arts college.
The liberal arts foundation is an advantage for students and employers, according to Registered Professional Landman (RPL) Charles Miller IV. Miller graduated from the program in 2017 and has since supervised Marietta College interns in his professional role as a landman at Diversified Energy.
“Being a small liberal arts college, students are exposed to multiple disciplines that require them to think critically,” Miller said. Students are introduced “to the business, legal and communication skills that are essential for success,” as well as land and energy concepts, he explained.
Thomas sees the College's size as a strength.
“Marietta has a unique advantage because we are a small school with a first-class petroleum engineering program,” Thomas said. “Land and energy students take classes with petroleum engineering students who may one day be their co-workers.” She was quick to add that land management is not limited to the oil and gas industry; “It is working in all industries whether that is renewables, government, management, timber, fossil fuels, recreation or many other areas,” she explained.
The “Landmark Experience” in Action
Fox discovered another advantage soon after declaring his major: opportunity.
“I got to dive head-first into it from the beginning,” Fox said. And he did so with vigor. Within his first year, he was offered an internship with Diversified Energy, working in Canton, Ohio, where he began to apply classroom learning in a real-world setting almost immediately.
“Everything was on the fly,” Fox said. “I learned everything from the base up.”
All students in the program are required to complete at least one internship; Fox is now working on his third this summer, with Gulfport Energy. He said the experiences have taught him far more than technical skills, including how to think quickly, adapt, and solve problems in the field.
These internships are valuable to employers, as well as students.
Miller said that for students “one of the greatest benefits is the opportunity to introduce them to the realities of the profession early in their careers.” He added that developing young professionals is “imperative” from an industry perspective, noting “a noticeable age gap in the land profession.”
Both Thomas and Miller say the program's location in the Appalachian Basin creates unique advantages for students and employers alike.
“Every transaction starts with land,” Thomas explained.
“It is important to work with someone who understands Ohio and Ohio people,” she added. “A landman who has studied in the area learns the customs and ways of this area.”
The benefit goes beyond knowing the area to becoming truly connected, according to Miller.
“Having this program located in Ohio is particularly important because many students develop professional connections with companies operating in the Appalachian Basin and choose to build their careers in the region after graduation,” he said. “As a result, the program helps retain talented young professionals within the state and supports long-term workforce development.”
A Program That Opens Doors
Fox's experience is far from unique. Opportunities like these are common for students in Marietta's program. The College even has a term for its focus on experiential learning – a Landmark Experience.
Gunner Fertig, a junior from Eleanor, West Virginia, began his college career as a management major, shifting to land and energy management just a year ago after fellow students “told me I’d be good at it,” he said.
“I saw the program as a good route into a job right after college,” he explained, noting that a management major was more general, while the land and energy program, “allowed me to get more specific and I feel I’m getting more out of it.”
In his second internship within the year, this one with Diversified Energy, he described getting an opportunity to see multiple parts of the profession, from searching courthouse records for leases to studying rights-of-way, and even meeting with a landowner.
“This has been a great internship!” Fertig said. “Anybody new into the land department, this is a great place to learn. You get to see everything, see what all goes on in several departments. They want me to understand what the different groups do.”
Professional Connections that Matter
The two Gunners—Fox and Fertig—both possess characteristics Miller described as distinguishing strong internship candidates: those who “demonstrate initiative, professionalism, curiosity, and a willingness to learn.” These are characteristics all students in the program build and hone through participation in professional opportunities and AAPL foundational accreditation requirements. Being AAPL accredited provides more than just an assurance of quality, Thomas explained.
“Being affiliated with AAPL gives the students an ethical standard and exposure to professionalism so they are prepared to enter the work world,” Thomas said. “Student membership allows students to participate in industry events where they network and learn.”
Students in the program regularly attend the North American Prospect Expo (NAPE) Summit and other professional settings. They are members of the local AAPL Michael Late Benedum Chapter (MLBC), where Thomas explained that through chapter meetings, networking and events, “they learn how to work more effectively in Ohio and West Virginia with their respective nuances.”
Students in AAPL-accredited programs compete for generous competitive scholarships through the Landman Scholarship Trust. Marietta students consistently earn these scholarships. For the upcoming academic year, three students received a combined $20,000 in awards. Additionally, Fox and Fertig have also earned the Michael Late Benedum Foundation Scholarship during their time in the program.
After graduation, the benefits of accreditation continue. Students qualify to take the first-level exam toward earning Registered Landman (RL) certification and can continue to increase their certification levels during their career. Marietta’s graduates who have taken the RL exam have had a 100% pass rate over the past two years! Graduating from an AAPL-accredited program also provides credit for three of the five years of experience required to apply for Registered Professional Landman (RPL) certification.
Preparing the Next Generation of Energy Leaders
For Miller, the program's value is clear.
“It develops professionally prepared graduates who are ready to contribute from day one while helping ensure the next generation of energy professionals is well equipped to meet the challenges of a constantly evolving industry. Marietta College produces driven young professionals who yearn to succeed and win.”
The success of the program is due in no small part to the director’s leadership. Program director Tina Thomas was recognized nationally in 2025 when she received the AAPL Accredited Program Director of the Year Award. That same year, Marietta was the only program in the nation with 100% student membership in AAPL.
Gunner Fertig referred to Thomas as “fierce, but gentle,” describing how she advocates for her students’ opportunities. Gunner Fox described Thomas as “by far the best professor I’ve ever had. As an advisor and as a person she provides a sense of welcoming…no matter what program you choose.”
“I feel we're in good hands as students,” Fox said. "What drew me here was the sense of community—it's truly a different place. There are so many good things happening at this college."