|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introducing the 2025 Harris Fellows
|
|
|
|
Public service is the heart of the Hobby School's mission. Through experiential learning opportunities, such as the summer Harris Fellows program, students gain hands-on experience in government and work with public servants. Six University of Houston students began their journeys as full-time staff members on June 2, taking on meaningful projects in constituent services, research, policy analysis, communications and community outreach while building professional networks. The aspiring leaders, who are seniors and post-baccalaureate students, bring their experiences from past Civic Houston Intern assignments to their new roles. Learn more about their summer placements, academic history, campus and community involvement and passion for serving others. This is the fifth cohort of Harris Fellows and one of the Hobby School's internship programs led by Jessica Ruland O'Connor. Former participants are completing coursework, attending law school or working in impactful careers. Two of the 2024 Harris Fellows, Juliana Hernandez and Milan Sam, and a 2023 Harris Fellow, Alexis Boehmer, recently concluded their time as Hobby Fellows during the 89th Texas Legislature.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hobby Fellows Reflect on Texas Legislature Experience
|
|
|
|
As the 2025 Hobby Fellows wrapped up their time at the Texas State Capitol on June 2, they reflected on their invaluable experiences and adventures as full-time legislative interns working and living in Austin. The program honors the legacy of Bill Hobby, the longest-serving lieutenant governor in the state, whose commitment to a transparent and efficient government was rooted in pragmatic and collaborative leadership. The legislative internship offers University of Houston students practical training during the 140-day biennial lawmaking session, where they gain knowledge of legislative procedures and play vital roles in drafting and analyzing bills, staffing assigned committees, conducting research and working with constituents. Hobby Fellows were immersed in state government and the policymaking process, learning valuable skills and forming lasting connections.
|
|
|
|
“Hobby Fellows opened my eyes to behind-the-scenes research roles within the policy field. From legal experts who transform bill ideas into formal drafts to policy analysts who assess a bill's financial impact and historical context, countless professionals ensure legislation is examined from every angle. I've formed more meaningful connections during this one internship than in all my previous internships combined.” – Alexis Boehmer, Office of State Rep. Gene Wu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Municipal Partners Act as Teaching Cities
|
|
When Master of Public Administration candidate Grayson Golden signed up for the new Teaching Cities program, led by Instructional Associate Professor Peter Koelling, he was seeking an opportunity to learn from public service professionals on the front lines of local government. Participating students spend up to 25 hours a week observing the intricacies and challenges of municipal government, developing skills and exploring potential careers. Koelling created the initiative as part of the Hobby School's new agile education curriculum framework, which emphasizes experiential learning.
|
|
|
|
"The MPA curriculum prepared me well," says Golden, who was with the City of Bellaire during the spring semester. "It familiarized me with the council-manager form of government utilized by Bellaire. One example of how classroom learning complemented the Teaching Cities program was my understanding of municipal government budgeting. Having been introduced to this process in the budgeting for public agencies course, I felt well-equipped to engage with city budgeters, as I was already familiar with the process and concepts."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partner cities, such as the City of Bellaire, expand on formal instruction through innovative training and investment in the next generation of public servants, including rotating department assignments, which help graduate candidates connect with local communities and address a range of relevant issues. "Our Teaching Cities partners have been diligent in their design of the program in their cities and have been very thoughtful about how to develop the knowledge and experience of the students," Koelling said. "All students who have completed the program have learned a significant amount and feel that they have a better understanding of how local governments work." Golden had the opportunity to collaborate with multiple areas and services across the host city, including public works, parks and recreation, finance, law enforcement, fire and the library. Through this unique experience, he gained an insider's view of how each department functions and how they convene to meet the city's overall strategic objectives. Other partners in the program include the cities of Deer Park, Friendswood and Piney Point.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Managers Elevate Organizational Communication Techniques
|
|
|
|
Participants of the Certified Public Manager program benefit from networking with their peers and cross-departmental knowledge. On May 22, the 2025-2026 cohort met with Cynthia Wilson of the City of Houston, who serves as chief of staff to Houston Mayor John Whitmire. The former educator and executive leader in workplace performance management addressed points in the group’s curriculum, underscoring the strategic alignment of messages when communicating essential or sensitive information to organizations. The guest speaker draws on her experience as a school district administrator during some of Houston’s large-scale emergencies, such as Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic. CPM candidates focused on organizational communication as part of the third track of the nationally recognized certification program. Other key takeaways from Wilson’s presentation included learning to break down what matters before communicating by focusing on “the who,” having a plan before you start and building the next steps. Emily Janowski and Arquella Hargrove co-direct the CPM program at the University of Houston, which is an affiliate of the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service program at Texas State University.
|
|
|
Where Data Meets the Community
|
|
|
|
Sixteen students from the 2025 Social Economy and Enterprise Academy are collaborating with four local nonprofits on evaluation projects this summer, utilizing data analysis and research to enhance the impact of these organizations on their communities. The selected graduate and undergraduate students bring various backgrounds and skill sets to the teams, applying what they learn from their coursework and majors in public policy, economics, history and mathematics. The groups will develop tangible solutions to achieve project objectives, including increasing electric vehicle adoption, identifying community health strengths, developing data-driven disaster response tools and enhancing community-wide volunteer development. The co-curricular program was initiated in 2019 with funds from the UH Office of the Provost’s Cougar Initiative to Engage. Pablo Pinto of the Hobby School and Germán Cubas and Piruz Saboury of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences direct the summer program. At a June kickoff meeting, representatives from BakerRipley, the Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement, Evolve Houston and the American Red Cross of the Texas Gulf Coast Region introduced their projects. Student teams will present their findings on Aug. 14.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hobby Talks: Why Congress?
|
|
|
|
The next Hobby Talks episode features a conversation with political scientist Philip Wallach on the 119th Congress and the deepening polarization of the legislative branch. Wallach contends that Congress was meant to defuse factional conflicts and necessitate power sharing. He will review the historical role of Congress in the American constitutional system, emphasizing its importance in shaping policy and maintaining a balance of power among the branches of government with Hobby Talks host Jim Granato.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Philip Wallach is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies America's separation of powers. He is the author of "Why Congress," a book on the necessity of a thriving Congress and how it can reassert its relevance and insight into its potential future. Find the show on the Hobby School's website and popular podcast applications on June 26.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Policy Learning Designed for Next Generation of Energy Transition Leaders
|
|
In May, Hobby School faculty and researchers worked with undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in energy transition at the multi-university 2025 Data Science for Energy Transition summer camp. The program has been supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation to address the need for a skilled and diverse data science workforce to optimize conventional energy and lead the transition to emerging sources. Center for Public Policy Director Pablo Pinto is a co-principal investigator, and Professor Sunny Wong serves as senior personnel. The principal investigator is Mikyoung Jung from the UH Department of Mathematics. Maria Pérez Argüelles, Gail Buttorff and Agustín Vallejo of the Hobby School shared their expertise in statistics, modeling and policy analysis with participants in the multi-university initiative that collaborates with energy industry partners.
|
|
|
Hobby School Welcomes Argentine Delegations, Strengthens Global Partnerships
|
|
In May, the University of Houston welcomed distinguished delegations from Argentina, reinforcing its role as a global convener of policy, energy and academic innovation. Hosted by the Center for Public Policy Director Pablo Pinto, the visits showcased the University’s commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration and international engagement, exploring future partnerships in research, workforce development and student exchange. The first meeting included Diego Valenzuela, the mayor of Tres de Febrero in Buenos Aires Province, Argentine Vice Consuls Carlos Martinez and Daniel Beltramo, and UH scholars in economics, architecture and public policy. Discussions focused on strategies to attract investment, foster innovation and workforce development, and prepare communities for the challenges of energy transition and artificial intelligence. In the meeting hosted by the Hobby School’s Gail Buttorff and Pablo Pinto and the UH Department of Petroleum Engineering, Argentine energy and business leaders, including Mario Figueroa, Secretary of Energy of Río Negro Province, and Lautaro Martinez, Director of Rio Negro’s Loan Guarantee Fund, met with department faculty, Michael Pelletier of the UH Institute for Global Engagement and Hobby School researchers. The discussion included Argentina’s Vaca Muerta Basin, one of the world’s largest shale reserves, as well as opportunities for technological exchange and sustainable resource management. The final visit with delegates from Mendoza Province included Secretary of Energy and Environment Jimena Torre and Lucas Erio, Mendoza’s undersecretary for hydrocarbons. Representatives from the Hobby School, UH Energy and UH Department of Chemistry highlighted shared interests in hydrocarbons, environmental stewardship and the power of transnational cooperation and interdisciplinary synergy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hobby School faculty members and researchers contribute to conversations on topics that impact public policy and address Texans' opinions on issues of importance to the state and nation. Recent media coverage featured the Hobby School's Chris Bronk and UH’s Department of Political Science's Zachary Zwald joining Houston Public Media's "Houston Matters with Craig Cohen" show to discuss the ethics of AI as state lawmakers considered bills related to altered political ads. The Texas Legislative Issues 2025 survey series, led by Hobby School researchers Renée Cross and Mark P. Jones, informed policymakers and the public throughout the biennial legislative session, including the debate over the ban on THC and hemp products. Cross and Jones were guests on Houston Public Media's weekly political roundup, sharing insights into public school funding, President Trump's tax and spending bill and his diplomacy with Russia and Ukraine. The research was also featured in a Houston Chronicle column examining the governor's "impossible choice on Texas' THC ban."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hobby School Happenings captures lectures, events, application deadlines, programs and collaborations hosted or co-sponsored by the Hobby School and its centers. Mark your calendars and join us for the next Hobby School happening. Tuesday, July 8, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Graduate Programs Information Session
Virtual Thursday, July 31
National Intern Day Friday, August 1
2025-2026 Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center Prize for Best Article on Ethics, Leadership and Public Policy
Learn More Friday, Aug. 1
Domestic Graduate School Application Deadline for Fall 2025
Apply Tuesday, Aug. 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Graduate Programs Information Session
Virtual Thursday, Aug. 14, 5-7 p.m.
Save the Date: Social Economy and Enterprise Academy Presentations Sunday, Aug. 17
National Nonprofit Day Monday, Aug. 25
First Day of Classes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
