2024 in Sight

A dozen Leland Fellows spent the spring semester as federal interns in the nation’s capital. The biennial Washington program led by Jessica Ruland O’Connor allowed students to staff committees and hearings, research legislation, interact with constituents on various issues and volunteer on food insecurity initiatives at area nonprofits. Students earned monthly stipends and paid housing, affording them a life-changing opportunity. 

Hobby School students facilitated roundtable discussions  at a day-long symposium examining the state of democracy hosted by the Texas Tribune on Feb. 27 at the University of Houston-Downtown. “We the Texans” convened experts on subjects aligned with the school's mission to explore civic engagement and policy issues at a deeper level. 

The Master of Public Administration program led by Peter Koelling recognized  four public service leaders  whose values align with the graduate program at the  2024 Public Officials of the Year Awards on April 19. This marked the first time the Hobby School hosted the annual luncheon, which benefits student scholarships, since the program became part of the school in 2023. 

In April, the Hobby School and Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs convened The Volcker Alliance’s Next Generation Service Corps leaders and program directors in Houston. Representatives from the 21 member universities participated in a three-day retreat to share best practices, build collaborative relationships and lay the groundwork for future planning. Emily Janowski leads the Next Generation Leadership Program at the University of Houston.

Dean Jim Granato shared highlights from the 2024 Texas Trends Survey report series at an annual data summit hosted by the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He introduced the Center for Public Policy's Houston Data Hub Dashboard. This interactive tool helps understand the needs and characteristics of Houston area neighborhoods that make them more vulnerable to weather events and health or economic challenges. 

The Hobby School celebrated its seventh commencement on May 9. Forty-five graduates, including those receiving a bachelor’s in public policy for the first time since the undergraduate program began in 2022 and first-time Master of Public Administration graduates under the Hobby School banner, crossed the stage. Texas state Rep. Armando Walle, who has hosted numerous Hobby Fellows and Civic Houston Interns, delivered the commencement address. 

Associate Professor  Chris Bronk is one of five University of Houston faculty members selected for the  Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. In 2025, Bronk will travel to Australia to broaden his academic perspective and study how cyberattacks and information influence public opinion and democracy, serving as the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Cyber-Information-Influence at the Defence and Security Institute at the  University of Adelaide. 

The Hobby School welcomed a new faculty member, a visiting professor, a visiting researcher and two staff members. Valentine Gilbert  and  Nora Reikosky  bring diverse experiences and interdisciplinary backgrounds to the classroom. Pauline Lemaire  contributes to the research conducted by the  Center for Public Policy led by Pablo Pinto. Edwin Cordero Jr. enhances the student experience, and Dumonique Rayson brings efficiency to the school's business operations.

The Hobby School Advisory Board welcomed two new members, Curtis Huff  and  Beth Madison. Huff is the president and chairman of Freebird Partners. Madison is a UH System Board of Regents member and the founder of Madison Benefits Group. The group of passionate community leaders led by chairman Ashley Smith promotes the Hobby School and its vision to train future public service leaders. 

Public affairs education leaders in the state held a panel discussion at Texas Southern University on Oct. 29 to convene students and alumni from the participating colleges and schools and to exchange insights on training the next generation of public service leaders, student recruitment, community partnerships, national networks and other topics in an evolving landscape. 

The  Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership  led by Daniel Engster hosted a fall lecture series examining the state of democracy and political climate. The  Future of American Democracy  lectures  featured The Atlantic journalist George Packer, former presidential candidate Julián Castro and former Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger, speakers committed to reenergizing and strengthening political participation and democratic institutions. 

92 Civic Houston Internship Program students completed part-time internships in government offices, nonprofits or electoral campaigns during the spring and fall semesters. This fall, a record 56 undergraduates took part in the school's flagship internship program. In addition to their internships, the undergraduates contributed nearly 1,000 volunteer hours on voter education initiatives and community issues in 2024. 

The Hobby School debuted a new podcast series in November, expanding the school’s access to thought-provoking programming. Hobby Talks features timely conversations on politics and policy topics with experts, scholars, and those guiding the most complex challenges facing our region and state. The inaugural episode featured former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger discussing his public service career, the presidential election outcome and his hopeful vision for the future of America. 

Over 100 students, alumni, program participants and community partners gathered at Station 3 in November for the Hobby School Mixer to network, celebrate the school's mission and honor the 2024 Hobby Leadership Award recipients Terry Lynch and Hugo Mojica. The Hobby School Alumni Association partly sponsored the event.

Hobby School students established a  registered student organization to strengthen the school's community of scholars and bring together those interested in civic engagement and public service. Public policy undergraduates and officers  Danielle Guevara,, Angel Leon  and  Zahra Iman held their first general meeting in the fall to encourage student membership and engagement.  

The Hobby School welcomed Robert L. Santos, the director of the  U.S. Census Bureau, to campus to discuss his background as a statistician, public service career opportunities at the federal level and the bureau's role in the democratic process. Hobby School students experienced deepened learning through classroom visits from public officials, experts, and community leaders and site visits across the city, including a tour of the historic Glenwood Cemetery. 

The largest cohort of the Certified Public Manager program celebrated the completion of the comprehensive course of study at a ceremony held at the Texas State Capitol on Dec. 13. Nearly 50 public service professionals learned best practices and strengthened their networks through the nationally recognized 14-month program covering seven tracks, from personnel administration and organizational communication to program evaluation.