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Latest Election Surveys Examine Candidates, Issues and Electoral Process
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In October, a new statewide survey series from the Hobby School of Public Affairs examined the vote intentions of Texans in the general election with a closer look at likely voters in Harris County ahead of Election Day. Four Texas Votes 2024 reports focused on key statewide and Harris County races and issues related to democracy and election administration. A fifth report on electricity infrastructure and distribution in Harris County will be released later this month. Media coverage of the findings included more than 120 citations, with mentions in prominent national, statewide and local outlets, such as The New York Times, Newsweek, the Texas Tribune and the Houston Chronicle. The first report focused on the presidential, U.S. Senate and Texas railroad commissioner races and issues influencing voters’ decisions. The former president is holding steady in Texas, with 51% of likely voters saying they would vote for the Republican nominee. The second report focused on key Harris County races, including district attorney, sheriff, county attorney and tax assessor-collector. Democratic candidates are leading among Harris County voters. The third report examined voter concerns about election integrity and threats to the electoral process and democracy. Two-thirds of likely Texas voters were confident that the presidential election would be conducted fairly and accurately. The fourth report examined voter concerns about election integrity and threats to democracy. More than three-quarters of likely voters in Harris County said they were very or somewhat confident that the presidential election would be conducted fairly and accurately.
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Help Shape the Future of Public Affairs
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As the Hobby School increases enrollment and elevates its national rankings and reputation, the call for a designated space where the next generation of public service professionals can thrive at the University of Houston is at a tipping point. Hobby School leaders are calling on our alumni, former interns and supporters to help raise an additional $5 million to realize this bold vision. With $52 million already invested, the school is closer than ever to creating a new permanent home for the Hobby School. Given the school’s momentum, a new building will quickly become an epicenter for the interdisciplinary learning, research and civic engagement activities the Hobby School is known for. It will include well-equipped and flexible classroom spaces for diverse learning styles, research hubs and communal zones designed to inspire innovation. Leave your mark today with a show of support and become part of the Hobby School legacy in building for the future.
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Mix and Mingle, Honor 2024 Hobby School Leaders, Nov. 12
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Mark your calendar for the 2024 Hobby School Mixer, Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 5-7 p.m. at Station 3, 1919 Houston Ave. The annual gathering brings together past and present Hobby School students, interns, Certified Public Manager participants and community partners to network, reconnect and celebrate the 2024 Hobby Leadership Award recipients. A former Hobby School intern and a Certified Public Manager program graduate will be honored for making a difference in their professions and communities. The event is sponsored in part by the Hobby School Alumni Association.
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A New Podcast Debuts in November
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Introducing Hobby Talks, a new podcast series from the Hobby School of Public Affairs produced in partnership with the Center for Student Media at the University of Houston. Hosted by Dean Jim Granato, the podcast features timely conversations on politics and policy with experts, scholars, and those guiding the most complex challenges facing our region and state. Launching in late November, Hobby Talks expands the school’s access to thought-provoking discussions and encourages cross-disciplinary dialogue on relevant issues. The inaugural episode will feature former Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger discussing the election outcome and the future of American democracy. “Hobby Talks offers another programming option for our audiences seeking important viewpoints and expertise in an easy-to-consume podcast platform,” said Hobby School Director of Communications and Marketing Victoria Cordova. “As our reach continues to grow, so does the demand for new ways to meet our community where they are.” The podcast is available on the Hobby School website and popular streaming applications such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Book Talk: Bill Hobby, A Life in Journalism and Public Service
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Join the authors of "Bill Hobby: A Life of Journalism and Public Service" for an insightful book talk on Nov. 19 about the school's namesake, former Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby, Jr. The new biography chronicles Hobby's life and significant contributions to Texas. Biographers Don Carleton and Erin L. Purdy document Hobby's indelible influence at the Texas Post, Texas Senate and in public education. They describe the Hobby family's Texas roots and lasting impression on the state and its residents across generations. Event check-in starts at 5 p.m., the panel discussion begins at 5:30 p.m., and a reception and book signing follow.
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Nominations Open for Public Officials of the Year Awards through Dec. 20
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The Master of Public Administration program will hold its 14th Annual Public Officials of the Year Awards on Friday, Mar. 21, at the UH Hilton in the Conrad Hilton Ballroom. Registration and networking begin at 11 a.m., and the luncheon starts at noon. Public Officials of the Year Awards and one Pioneer Award will be presented to outstanding Houston area public or elected officials serving their communities. Strong candidates are problem solvers, innovators and ethical leaders who improve the lives of others and tackle complex challenges through collaboration. The Pioneer Award will go to an individual whose leadership and professionalism have had a lasting impact in their field. The annual awards ceremony benefits the scholarship fund for graduate students in the Master of Public Administration program. Nominations are accepted through Friday, Dec. 20. Submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee led by the Hobby School Alumni Association. For questions about the nomination process, please email the Hobby School's Peter Koelling at pkoelling@uh.edu.
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Future of Texas Public Policy Schools
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A group of statewide leaders in public policy education held an interactive panel on Oct. 29 at Texas Southern University. Leaders included Michael O. Adams from the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, Karabi C. Bezboruah with the University of Texas at Arlington College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs, JR DeShazo from the University of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs, Jim Granato from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs and John B. Sherman of the Texas A&M Bush School of Government and Public Service. The panelists exchanged insights and information about their shared mission to prepare the next generation of public service leaders and the opportunities and strategies to succeed in an evolving landscape. This was the second gathering of minds to discuss mission alignments, national networks, student recruitment, expanding academic offerings with undergraduate education and other topics in public affairs education.
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Public Service Leadership Measured in “Agility”
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Dean Jim Granato convened students, faculty, practitioners and experts on Oct. 15 for an inaugural dialogue on how the Hobby School integrates theory and practice to meet the public service workforce needs and to equip the next generation of leaders with an adaptive toolkit for a rapidly changing world. Long rooted in its credo “Openness over Hierarchy, Risk over Stability, Innovation over the Tried and True,” the Hobby School endeavors to prepare its graduates to face the evolving demands of a global marketplace. Granato was joined by Hobby School’s Sunny Wong and Peter Koelling, former Texas state Rep. Garnet Coleman, Austin Bleess of the City of Jersey Village and public affairs education leaders Angela Evans and Ed DeSeve. Evans and DeSeve joined the meeting to provide context around agile government and public service professionals as force multipliers who practice transferable skills in public service. Koelling and Wong pointed to the school’s amenable foundation for implementing initiatives that will take Hobby School students and alumni to the forefront of effective government and community leadership. They also introduced several emerging initiatives, such as municipal apprenticeship partnerships called Teaching Cities, curriculum development strategies and professional learning opportunities that will further the school’s agile learning outcomes. Watch the meeting recording on the school’s YouTube channel.
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Prof. Emeritus and Hobby School Senior Research Fellow Richard Murray Visits Civic Interns
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In October, Civic Houston Interns heard from Richard Murray, a UH professor emeritus and Hobby School senior research fellow. Murray's history with the Hobby School goes back to its beginning as the Center for Public Policy in 1981, and he was instrumental in the creation of the Civic Houston Internship Program in 1996. Murray is known for his expertise in Houston and Texas politics, public opinion polling and election and demographic research. He discussed the future of the region and state, from the workforce to public transportation, and the changing demographics and their impact at the ballot box. He also fielded questions from the fall cohort about pressing policy issues. Led by the Hobby School's Jessica Ruland O'Connor, Civic Houston Interns are gaining public service experience this semester by working part-time in local governmental offices and with area nonprofits, public affairs firms and electoral campaigns. In addition to their assignments, they are volunteering with voter education initiatives and engaging in other experiential learning opportunities on and off campus. Applications for spring 2025 interns are now being accepted. The deadline to apply is Friday, Dec. 13.
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Project Analyzes Regional Workforce Data
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Social Economy and Enterprise Academy (SEEA) participants on the 2024 Workforce Solutions team were recently recognized for their project, “Investing in Workforce Growth through Targeted Programs.” David Idah, Oliver Jimenez, Jessica Le, Laura Lozano and Jake Schwartz served as consultants to identify and analyze rising careers and industries in the 13-county Houston-Galveston region. They were tasked with aligning the high-growth, high-demand sectors for potential inclusion in a training program funded by Workforce Solutions. Workforce Solutions provides comprehensive resources for individuals and businesses to help them thrive and prosper. The SEEA program matches students with local nonprofits needing expertise in research and data analysis. Applications for 2025 summer projects will open in the spring. Faculty members Pablo Pinto of the Hobby School and Germán Cubas and Piruz Saboury of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences are the program directors.
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Visiting Houston’s History
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Next Generation Leadership Academy members visited Houston’s past during a recent walking tour of one of the city’s oldest cemeteries. The students and Program Director Emily Janowski met with Preservation Houston at Glenwood Cemetery to see the final resting places of some of the city’s most recognized names, including Hobby family patriarch William P. Hobby (1878-1964), the youngest person elected to serve as Texas governor. Participants in the leadership development program benefit from the national network of like-minded students, training and civic engagement opportunities, growing their skills for future careers in public service and social impact.
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Congratulations to the Newest Honor Society Members
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In October, eleven new Hobby School undergraduate and graduate students were inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the global honor society for public affairs and administration. Inductees exemplify the high academic standards and commitment to public service that symbolize the organization's mission. The association's members benefit from its broad network and professional opportunities. This fall marked the fourteenth cohort of Pi Alpha Alpha members at the Hobby School. It includes public policy undergraduates and Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Policy candidates Jeremias Iraheta, Andrew Deavers, Shannay Baradaran, Jordan Guidry, Leyla Taghiyeva, Garett Upchurch, Michelle Gabriel and Dylan Berens. Not pictured: Sam Locasto, Matthew Kniowski and David Contreras.
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Master of Public Policy candidate Jordan Guidry reflected on the elements contributing to his success: "The philosophical insights gained from my coursework at the Hobby School have been invaluable. They have helped me see beyond the surface of policy issues and focus on the underlying principles that drive them."
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Endowed Scholarship Supports Student Success
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Senior Research Fellow Richard Murray served as the director of polling operations for four decades and influenced innumerable students as a political science faculty member. He is a sought-after expert on election trends and partisan political change in Texas. His endowed scholarship is presented to students who show exemplary dedication to public service, are academically strong and share a passion for politics and policy. The 2024 Richard Murray Scholarship recipients include four students with diverse academic pursuits, including public policy, English, philosophy and political science.
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Vincent Fumey-Nassah is a senior majoring in public policy. They completed a national summer internship contributing to the Democratic Erosion Consortium database of global incidents of democratic erosion. They are passionate about promoting civic engagement, focusing on student voter education and registration through Texas Rising.
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Anisah Khan is a senior majoring in English. She is interning at the Mayor's Office of Education and Youth Engagement, where she has contributed to the City of Houston Youth Mental Health Guide and collaborated on a city initiative focused on youth mental health. Her essay, "Narrating the Spectrum," was recognized as the 2023 Nonfiction winner in the Alexandra L. Rowan Memorial Foundation Writing Competition.
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Chinwe Nwaeze is a senior double majoring in philosophy and political science. Her experience working as a policy intern in the Office of Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis and in Houston City Council has deepened her understanding of community building and local government as a catalyst for political change.
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Milam Sam is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and a Master of Public Policy through a dual degree program. His experience includes internships in the office of Harris County Justice of the Peace Judge Dolores Lozano and Harris County Office of County Administration. He is a member of the Hobby School's Next Generation Leadership Academy.
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Ruland Adds Instructor of Record to Title
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Jessica Ruland O'Connor oversees the school's robust internship programs in Houston, Austin, and D.C., and she is expanding her role at Hobby School. This fall, the two-time UH Coog is adding instructor of record for the Civic Houston Internship Program students receiving public policy credit to her list of qualifications. She is covering POLC 4390 for Civic Houston Interns serving in government offices at all levels and in selected private and nonprofit industries.
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Ruland O'Connor also works with alumni and community partners. She holds a Master of Public Policy and a bachelor's degree in political science and sociology. The former Civic Houston Intern and Leland Fellow worked in the Greater Houston Partnership's public policy division before joining the Hobby School in 2022.
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CPP Welcomes Visiting Researcher
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Pauline Lemaire has joined the Hobby School as a visiting researcher in the Center for Public Policy, which focuses on the research and analysis of critical public policy problems using objective and rigorous methods. The postdoctoral researcher from the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Bergen, Norway, focuses on how authoritarian regimes control information within their borders and in Europe and how that affects citizens’ political participation, with a specific emphasis on Rwanda. Her work is part of ARM, a European Union consortium exploring the extent to which major global players engage in transnational information suppression, particularly targeting European diaspora communities.
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“At the Hobby School, I am looking forward to working on new methods to exploit various types of data in my research and to broaden my perspective to cyber security issues,” says the French native. “I also hope to learn from the research conducted by the Center for Public Policy.”
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In October, the Hobby School released Texas Votes 2024, a survey series on statewide and Harris County races, issues influencing voter intention, election integrity and democracy as Texans prepare for the upcoming elections. The reports made national, state and local news, including coverage by The New York Times, Newsweek, CBS News, Crossroads Today, The Center Square, MSN, Newsmax, RealClearPolitics, Texas Tribune, Texas Standard, Texas Monthly, Texas Public Radio, Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Media, The Dallas Morning News, KHOU TV, KPRC TV, WFAA TV, San Antonio Express-News and KTRH AM. Hobby School researchers Savannah Sipole and Maria Perez Arguelles talked to the Houston Chronicle in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene about storm response and resiliency plans, particularly for vulnerable populations, and continued progress in urban development. Hobby School Senior Executive Director and Researcher Renée Cross appeared on Houston Public Media’s public affairs talk show, “Houston Matters with Craig Cohen,” to discuss local and national political headlines, including the tight U.S. Senate race and new voters in Texas. Houston Public Media interviewed Hobby School Senior Research Fellow Richard Murray about the changing demographics of the electorate in Fort Bend County and Texas. The interview also aired on Texas Standard. Hobby School faculty members and researchers are sought-after experts in their fields. They contribute to conversations on timely topics and policy options and address concerns important to Texans.
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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. Nov. 1-Dec. 20
2025 Public Officials of the Year Awards Open Nominations
Nominate a Leader Tuesday, Nov. 5
Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 12, 5-7 p.m.
Hobby School Alumni and Student Mixer
Station 3, 1919 Houston Ave.
Register Tuesday, Nov. 12, 5:30 p.m.
Virtual Graduate Program Information Session
Register Wednesday, Nov. 13, 4-6 p.m.
The State of American Democracy with Adam Kinzinger
The Future of American Democracy Lecture Series
Presented by the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center
Rockwell Pavilion, M.D. Anderson Library
Join the Waitlist Tuesday, Nov. 19, 5:30-8 p.m.
Bill Hobby: A Life of Journalism and Public Service
Featuring Biographers Don Carleton and Erin L. Purdy
UH Hilton, Waldorf Astoria Ballroom
Register Thursday, Nov. 21
Hobby Talks Podcast
Listen. Subscribe. Learn more. Tuesday, Nov. 26
Last Day of UH Fall Classes Nov. 28-29
UH Thanksgiving Holiday Dec. 1
Domestic Applicant Deadline for Spring 2025 Semester
Apply
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