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Houston’s Chief Executive Headlines Annual Luncheon on Feb. 6
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Join the Hobby School for its annual luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Wortham Center. The event will feature a one-on-one conversation between Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Hobby School Senior Research Fellow Richard Murray. Mayor Whitmire will reflect on his first year at Houston City Hall and share insights on the city's challenges, his administration's priorities, and his vision and strategies for shaping Houston's future. He will discuss what drove him to run for public office, tracing the start of his political career to Richard Murray's classroom at the University of Houston campus. Mayor Whitmire will highlight his decades-long tenure as a state lawmaker and his perspective on the key legislative issues facing the 89th Texas Legislature impacting the region. Chaired by Kathryn McNiel, a Hobby School Advisory Board member, the luncheon benefits Hobby Fellows working as full-time legislative interns at the Texas State Capitol during biennial lawmaking sessions. Support the Hobby School through individual tickets and table purchases, or make a personal gift to support the Hobby Fellows.
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Dean Granato Welcomes Everyone Back for an Exciting Spring Semester
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Welcome to campus and the start of an exciting new semester. This year, our growing community is closer to breaking ground on a new state-of-the-art building. With innovative learning spaces, research hubs and collaboration zones, it will shape the future of public policy education at the University of Houston for generations. In 2024, we celebrated many milestones, including the largest graduating class, the first undergraduates to earn their bachelor's degree in public policy and record Civic Houston Internship Program and Certified Public Manager program cohorts. Faculty achievements included a Fulbright Scholar for international research in Australia, grant-funded research in education policy, a citation in The 2024 Economic Report of the President and collaborative research on critical policy issues in the state. We have much in store this spring, including luncheons benefitting transformative student opportunities and student scholarships. Follow the Hobby Fellows in Austin during the regular session of the 89th Texas Legislature and look for information on new episodes of Hobby Talks, campus lectures, research projects and state and national collaborations that enhance the student experience and inform policymakers. Best wishes for a successful semester ahead!
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Celebrate Public Officials of the Year Awards in March
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The Master of Public Administration program will recognize public service leaders serving their communities at the 14th Annual Public Officials of the Year Awards luncheon on Friday, March 21. The honorees will be celebrated for being problem solvers, innovators and ethical leaders who improve the lives of others through their careers in public service in the Houston area. The awards ceremony benefits the scholarship fund for Master of Public Administration candidates and underscores the graduate program's public service principles. Signature sponsors will be recognized for supporting the annual luncheon and public affairs education. For questions about tickets and table sponsorships, please email Peter Koelling at pkoelling@uh.edu.
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Hobby Fellows Study Policy in Austin During Legislative Session
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Thirteen outstanding students started their journeys as legislative interns on Jan.14 as lawmakers gaveled in for the 89th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol. Hobby Fellows serve as interns during the 140-day biennial lawmaking session, supporting state legislators and the policymaking process. The University of Houston undergraduates will build the valuable skills, knowledge and networks vital for emerging leaders to succeed across various fields. The Hobby Fellows program debuted at the 83rd Texas Legislature to represent the public service legacy of former Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby. Austin internships provide an inside look into state government, where interns learn by actively creating legislation that impacts Texans. The last day of the regular session ends on June 2.
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Rethinking the Workplace: Political Philosopher Delivers Richard Gelwick Lecture
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Who does work ethic serve? Political philosopher Elizabeth Anderson will explore the way modern American society thinks about work and socio-economic policies, sharing insights into the history of the political economy, the original goals of the work ethic, and how this examination can inform today’s thinking around equality, jobs and work conditions during her upcoming campus visit. The University of Michigan professor will deliver the 2025 Richard Gelwick Endowed Lecture on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 4 p.m. in the Rockwell Pavilion at the M.D. Anderson Library. Anderson’s work explores issues intersecting social justice, equality and democracy, drawing from problems in actual situations faced by everyday people. In her latest book, “Hijacked: How Neoliberalism Turned the Work Ethic Against the Workers,” she calls for worker dignity and reclaiming the work ethic in American democracy. Anderson is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and John Dewey Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy and Women’s Studies at the University of Michigan. The lecture is sponsored by the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership and is free and open to the University of Houston and surrounding communities.
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Fighting for Justice: Implementing Rights Restoration
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Political scientist Hannah Walker will discuss restoring rights for those with felony convictions and the criminal justice system's impact on political engagement and democracy as part of a thought-provoking discussion presented by the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership on Monday, Feb. 10, at 3:30 p.m. in the Bates Law Building Heritage Room. Walker is an associate professor of government and the director of research for the Initiative for Law, Societies, and Justice at the University of Texas at Austin. She will share insights from her book, "Mobilized by Injustice: Criminal Justice Contact, Political Participation, and Race," and her research on how justice-involved individuals engage in politics with special attention to minority and immigrant communities.
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Public Service Managers Complete Certification
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Certified Public Manager program participants marked their completion of the nationally recognized certification program at a ceremony held at the Texas State Capitol on Dec. 13. Miha Vindis, director of the Certified Public Manager program for Texas, welcomed the Hobby School’s 29th graduating class to Austin. Amy Parham, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity Texas, served as the commencement speaker. The Texas program was established in 1996 at the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service to enhance the quality and efficiency of executive and emerging government leaders. The latest cohort, co-directed by the Hobby School's Emily Janowski and professional executive management consultant Arquella Hargrove, was the largest to date, with nearly 50 participants representing almost 20 municipal, county and nonprofit entities. The executive training provides a comprehensive course of study for public sector managers to learn and apply best practices while strengthening their professional network. Upon completing the 14-month program, graduates earn the professional credential of CPM.
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Intern Awarded for Outstanding Civic Engagement
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Congratulations to Cullen Watkins, the fall 2024 Civic Houston Internship Program Award recipient. The University of Houston junior will receive $1,000 toward his college education. Watkins is majoring in public policy with a minor in entrepreneurship. He was born in Houston and raised in Chicago, where his passion for politics and policy took root with his involvement in local Illinois campaigns during high school.
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Growing up in a family affected by alcoholism, Watkins considers addressing substance abuse as key to tackling broader social issues such as crime, homelessness and economic prosperity. Watkins interned with the Mayor's Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety as part of the Civic Houston Internship Program. There, he contributed to policy work on substance abuse prevention and treatment through the Houston Crackdown division. He serves as a 2025 Hobby Fellow in Austin in the office of state Rep. Charles Cunningham. On campus, Watkins has been an active Young Conservatives of Texas member and served as president of the United Sobriety Alliance.
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Spring Virtual Information Sessions Scheduled
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Learn new ways to accelerate your career or boost your professional qualifications with one of the Hobby School’s graduate programs. The Hobby School offers two graduate programs of study, four graduate dual degree programs, seven graduate certificates in public policy and six accelerated pathway program opportunities for undergraduates. An advanced degree from the Hobby School prepares students to face tomorrow’s challenges through interdisciplinary coursework, ethics and leadership training, and experiential learning opportunities. Hobby School students develop fundamental tools and transferable skills. Join the next virtual graduate information session on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 5:30 p.m. Get insight on the application and admissions process, how to fund your degree, career outcomes and more.
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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. In December, the Hobby School’s Blake Heller authored an opinion editorial for Inside Higher Ed, an authoritative source of data, analysis and information on higher education in America, where he examined GED college-readiness designations and their potential to serve as a pipeline to achieving postsecondary education. Heller calls for educational institutions to build an infrastructure to support nontraditional students better through institutional policies that smooth the transition to college. The assistant professor who focuses his research and teaching on education policy topics said, "System leaders and admissions officers need to know what the GED college-readiness designations mean, carefully consider whether and how to account for this evidence of students' prior learning, and provide clear, easy-to-find guidance for students." Hobby School dual master’s degree graduate in public policy and economics Miguel Patino was one of the fall graduates featured in a commencement story by the University of Houston highlighting standout students across campus. He reflected on his transformative experience as a military veteran adjusting to civilian life and exploring life-changing opportunities at the Hobby School. He built the confidence and skills to follow his dreams of becoming a pilot and met his life partner, Leyla Taghiyeva, a Master of Public Administration candidate. Patino will soon apply what he learned to an Army Captain’s Career Course and become a captain in civil affairs for the U.S. Army Reserve. Associate Professor Chris Bronk contributed to a discussion about the 25th anniversary of Y2K, and Senior Executive Director Renée Cross commented on Houston City Councilmember Edward Pollard's rebranding of his district, District J, to 'J City' as he increases the number of services available to residents in a recent Houston Chronicle story.
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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. Monday, Jan. 13
First Day of Spring Classes Monday, Jan. 20
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Wednesday, Jan. 22, 9 a.m.
Houston Matters Political Roundup with Renée Cross
Houston Public Media’s News 88.7
Listen Online Tuesday, Feb. 4, 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Graduate Programs Information Session Thursday, Feb. 6, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Hobby School Annual Luncheon with Houston Mayor John Whitmire
Wortham Center, 501 Texas Ave.
Tickets and Tables Monday, Feb. 10, 3:30-5 p.m.
Fighting for Justice: Implementing Rights Restoration
Hannah Walker, University of Texas at Austin
Elizabeth D. Rockwell Lecture Series
Heritage Room (Second Floor, Room 201), Bates Law Building Thursday, Feb. 27, 4-5:30 p.m.
The Work Ethic and the Post-Work Ethic
2025 Richard Gelwick Endowed Lecture
Elizabeth Anderson, University of Michigan
Rockwell Pavilion, M.D. Anderson Library Register Friday, March 21, Noon
2025 Public Officials of the Year Awards Luncheon
Conrad N. Hilton Ballroom, Hilton University of Houston
More Information
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