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A Message from the Dean: A Year of Purpose and Progress
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As the fall semester begins, Dean Jim Granato shares a message of momentum at the Hobby School of Public Affairs. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Master of Public Policy program, which has increased fourfold from nine students in 2015. The school welcomes new leadership and strengthens its commitment to civic engagement and student success. From the 29th year of the Civic Houston Internship Program to the launch of the Space City Panel and a new speaker series on ethics and technology, the Hobby School is shaping the next generation of public leaders and contributing to conversations on policy options.
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Level Up Your Skills at the Civic Engagement Boot Camp, Sept. 12
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Make a meaningful impact on your community by participating in a dynamic, daylong workshop designed to strengthen your civic leadership skills ahead of upcoming elections. Led by the Hobby School's Jessica Ruland O'Connor, this free event on Sept. 12 offers a civic skills lab, election training and interactive sessions with experts from nonprofit and government sectors. Participants will gain practical tools to increase voter participation and become effective civic leaders. The featured speakers include:
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Annie Benifield Johnson, Houston Voting Initiative
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Katie Campbell Shumway, League of Women Voters of Houston
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Chris Pino, BakerRipley
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Avery Spranger, Harris County Department of Education
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Kortni Montgomery and Ashley Lawson, Office of Harris County Clerk
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Sarah Syed, Woori Juntos
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James Lovell, Office of Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar
Space is limited, and registration is required. Learn more and reserve your spot.
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Introducing Letter from Texas: Richard Murray on the Future of Politics
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The Houston metropolitan area has drastically changed since the mid-1960s, when Richard Murray joined the University of Houston faculty roster. To dive deeper into the state’s shifting demographics and political currents, Murray, a senior research fellow at the Hobby School, has introduced “Letter from Texas,” a new newsletter offering data and exclusive commentary based on decades of his teaching and research on Texas politics. Murray seeks to unpack the nuances of why the Lone Star State is pivotal to the future of American governance. From the implications of President Trump’s second-term agenda to the evolving identity of Texans, each letter will connect the dots between local trends and national impact. Be the first to read it. Sign up now and explore the debut issue later this month on Texas’s changing population and policy preferences.
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Inside Internet Privacy Laws in Texas with Tyler Bridegan
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Texas has emerged as a national leader in online privacy enforcement, securing historic settlements with Google and Meta aimed at curbing unlawful data collection. Hobby Talks returns this fall with Tyler Bridegan of the Texas Attorney General's office providing insights into the Lone Star State's comprehensive enforcement strategies and approach to enhancing consumer protections. Bridegan will guide listeners through the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, holding major technology companies accountable and what's next for the broader privacy landscape and the security of Texans in an evolving digital world. The podcast episode will be available on Oct. 6 on the Hobby School's website and popular podcast applications. Bridegan will be on campus on Sept. 29 for a free lunch and classroom lecture co-hosted by the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership and the University of Houston Law Center.
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Is Your Phone Running Your Life?
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Join Catherine Price, best-selling author and acclaimed health and science journalist, for a compelling conversation on how our screen-based world affects our attention, relationships and well-being. Drawing from her research and popular book, “How to Break Up with Your Phone,” Price will offer evidence-based strategies to help us reconnect with the parts of life that happen off-screen on Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. in the UH Student Center South Theater. This event is part of the 2025–2026 Rebooting Our Relationship with Tech lecture series, hosted by the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership. The series brings leading voices in technology to campus to explore how digital tools, from smartphones and AI to algorithms and search engines, shape connections, challenge privacy and influence democracy. Each lecture invites audiences to reflect on the ethical dimensions of technology’s rapid evolution and its impact on society.
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Civic Champions Fuel Nonprofit Impact
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In honor of National Nonprofit Day, the Hobby School spotlighted community partners and Civic Houston Interns working to fulfill the organizations' missions. In the spring, Thu Nguyen supported Kids' Meals Inc. with donor stewardship projects, fundraising events, website research and blog writing. Kids' Meals helps end childhood hunger by delivering free, healthy meals to children under five who are unable to access school-based meal programs. Keoni Holeman brought energy, creativity and dedication to the Community Builders Academy at the East Harris County Empowerment Council. Allyson Campos worked with Denver Harbor Cares to help organize job fairs, community events and tax and property seminars.
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Hobby School students gain experience through internship assignments with partner agencies that benefit from the hands-on support while educating college students about community needs and services.
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Hobby School Welcomes Brandon Williams as EDR Center Director
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The Hobby School welcomes Brandon Williams as an instructional assistant professor and the new director of the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership. This fall, he will be teaching Contemporary Political Philosophy and Policy and leading students in hands-on policy work through the Public Policy Lab course. His courses emphasize real-world engagement, including interaction with local leaders and insight into collaborative policy solutions. Williams shared his enthusiasm for building on the strong foundation and leadership established by Dan Engster, the Center's inaugural director.
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What excites you about the Hobby School? "The Hobby School is an exciting place to be because I get to work with students who are focused on addressing real-world issues, and I get to learn from colleagues in other disciplines with different areas of expertise and experience." What is your vision for the EDR Center? "I look forward to furthering the mission of the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center and to increasing its presence and impact, both on the University of Houston campus and in the greater Houston community. One of my aims is for the Center to come to the fore of people's minds when they think about academic civic engagement and leadership development in the Houston area and beyond."
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Communications Executive Director Joins Leadership Houston Class
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Victoria Cordova has been selected to join Leadership Houston Class XLIV. This prestigious 10-month program connects Houston’s changemakers to the city’s economy, politics, history and key industries through dedicated learning sessions held across the region, as well as encourages participants to explore their leadership styles and civic engagement plans. Cordova leads the Hobby School’s communications team, promoting its interdisciplinary curriculum, research and public service initiatives. A native Houstonian with a background in local government and higher education, she also serves on the Houston Public Media Foundation Board and the Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission.
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Meet the Fall 2025 Civic Houston Interns
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Fifty-eight undergraduates from different majors across campus, including public policy, engineering, journalism and more, are gaining hands-on experience in government, nonprofit and campaign offices this semester through the Civic Houston Internship Program. In addition to their semester assignments, students will have the opportunity to experience guest speakers and log volunteer hours in upcoming election campaigns or a voter engagement project. For many Hobby School students, translating passion into action starts as a Civic Houston Intern. Nine are returning interns to the flagship program, and 26 are first-generation college students. "I’m thrilled to welcome such a large class of students in the program’s 29th year," said Jessica Ruland O'Connor, who directs the undergraduate internships program at the Hobby School. She added, "Thanks to the commitment of our partners and their belief in cultivating the next generation of public service leaders, together we create opportunities for these remarkable young professionals."
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New Cohort Joins National Network of Mission-Driven Students
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Meet the newest cohort of the Next Generation Leadership Academy, ten undergraduates from diverse academic backgrounds, studying public policy, political science, chemical engineering and marketing. They join more than a dozen peers in the comprehensive program at the University of Houston and benefit from the national network led by The Volcker Alliance, an initiative aligned with the Hobby School's mission to increase civic engagement and provide real-world experience across various sectors. Program Director Emily Janowski provides students with mentorship and year-round opportunities that educate them on policy issues and empower them to lead in their communities, including site visits, tours, strategic planning sessions and student summits. This summer, members visited the East End District offices with Janowski to learn about the management district's economic development initiatives and infrastructure improvements in the area.
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Students Use Data to Drive Community Impact
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This summer, 16 students in the Social Economy and Enterprise Academy partnered on data analysis projects with Houston-area nonprofits American Red Cross of the Texas Gulf Coast Region, BakerRipley, Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement and EVOLVE Houston. Organized into four teams, students explored topics including electric vehicle adoption, disaster response, community health monitoring and youth volunteer strategies. Their findings help agencies optimize resources and strengthen foundational programs. Students presented their recommendations to faculty, peers and nonprofit leaders on Aug. 14. 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.
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Save the Date for the 2025 Hobby School Mixer, Nov. 10
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Mark your calendars for the 2025 Hobby School Mixer set for Monday, Nov. 10, at Station 3, 1919 Houston Ave., from 5 to 7 p.m. Join Hobby School alumni, students, interns, Certified Public Manager participants and community partners for an evening of connection, celebration and community. This annual mixer will feature the 2025 Hobby Leadership Award recipients for their outstanding professional achievements and dedication to public service and Hobby School announcements. Whether you're reconnecting or meeting new faces, this event is your chance to honor public service and leadership in action.
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From the Classroom to the Community: Celebrating Student and Alumni Impact
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The Hobby School's mission is reflected in the work of its students and alumni, who bring public service, research and civic engagement to their communities and careers. Whether shaping policy, driving innovation or building stronger neighborhoods, we want to hear from past and present students. If you have turned your passion into purpose, landed a dream role or launched a bold initiative, we invite you to share your accomplishments.
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The Hobby School's Pablo Pinto joined “Hello Houston,” a new weekday program from Houston Public Media, to discuss the fundamentals of public opinion polling ahead of upcoming elections. During the segment, Pinto highlighted the Center for Public Policy’s interdisciplinary research approach and its commitment to rigorous methodological standards. He emphasized the importance of polling as a tool for policymakers to better understand public sentiment and inform their decision-making. Watch the interview on Houston Public Media's YouTube channel. In addition, Pinto discussed the remapping of congressional districts in the state on Radio Bilingüe, a leading Latino public radio network. In a recent appearance on Houston Public Media's flagship talk show, "Houston Matters with Craig Cohen," the Hobby School's Renée Cross unpacked the latest developments in politics, including candidates in the state's redrawn congressional districts, priority bills for state lawmakers in the second special session, Harris County's budget challenges and President Trump's proposal to expand National Guard deployment. Cross also shared insights into changes in the higher education leadership landscape in Texas with The Texas Tribune. Hobby School experts provide valuable insights into pressing issues affecting Texans, helping to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact.
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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. Friday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fall 2025 Civic Engagement Boot Camp Heritage Room (Room 201), Bates Law Building Register Wednesday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m. “Houston Matters with Craig Cohen” featuring Hobby School’s Renée Cross Listen Online Thursday, Sept. 18, 4-5:30 p.m. “How to Break Up with Your Phone” with Catherine Price UH Student Center South Theater Register Saturday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. Hobby School Alumni Association Game Night Luna Pizzeria, 107 Yale St., #400, Houston, TX, 77007 Monday, Sept. 29, 12-1 p.m. “Inside Internet Privacy Laws in Texas” with Tyler Bridegan John M. O’Quinn Law Building, Room 210 Register Monday, Oct. 6 Leland Fellows-Washington Application Deadline Learn More and Apply Monday, Oct. 6 Hobby Talks New Podcast Episode Learn More and Subscribe Oct. 6-10 National Voter Education Week Tuesday, Oct. 7, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Virtual Graduate Programs Information Session Register Thursday, Oct. 16, 4-5:30 p.m. “AI and Our Future: How AI and Search Engine Algorithms Reinforce Oppression” with Safiya Noble Rockwell Pavilion, MD Anderson Library Register
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