As we begin 2026, the Hobby School enters the new semester with great momentum. We are marking the tenth anniversary of the Hobby School as a standalone school, expanding opportunities for our students and preparing for the next phase of growth. Our community continues to demonstrate the power of connecting classroom learning with public service. 

This spring, a new cohort of Leland Fellows is gaining firsthand experience through congressional internships on Capitol Hill. Many began their public service path through the Civic Houston Internship Program, which will celebrate 30 years of introducing more than 1,800 University of Houston students to local government and nonprofit offices and electoral campaigns. We also launched the Civic Engagement Ambassadors program to foster student-led voter education initiatives and strengthen partnerships with student organizations. 

On April 9, we will gather at the Eldorado Ballroom in Houston’s historic Third Ward to recognize Senior Research Fellow Richard Murray for 60 years of service at the University of Houston. Save the date for an evening celebrating his career through stories, humor and tributes. Murray is a fixture in local and state political analysis, a respected pollster and a mentor to generations of students. 

Be on the lookout for lectures from the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership that challenge assumptions about democracy and technology, career readiness workshops led by the student affairs team, and an awards luncheon honoring public servants hosted by the Master of Public Administration program. 

Plans for the school’s new building have continued to move forward since the ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony, with construction beginning this year. This state-of-the-art facility will support innovative teaching, interdisciplinary research and collaboration among students, faculty, staff, policymakers and practitioners. We are grateful to university leadership and to the elected and civic leaders whose support is bringing this vision to life. 

Our academic and research reach is growing. A new national initiative for military veterans and their families, led by The Volcker Alliance, will expand pathways to public service careers. In addition, Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center Ethics Bowl scholars earned a spot to compete in the National Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl in St. Louis in March. Stay tuned for new findings from the SPACE City Panel, a longitudinal survey of area residents that sheds light on the issues shaping our region, and primary and general election surveys in an important midterm year. Join us in supporting transformative experiential learning, advancing applied research and deepening state and national collaborations that magnify the impact of our work.

 Finally, I look forward to being in the classroom, teaching a course on political economy and ethics, and engaging with the students who are at the heart of the Hobby School’s mission. Thank you for being part of our community, and I wish you a productive and successful semester. 

Jim Granato, Ph.D. 
Dean, Hobby School of Public Affairs
University of Houston