As we begin a new academic year, I welcome our students, faculty, staff and partners to a semester full of promise and purpose, and I am proud to share the exciting momentum building at the Hobby School of Public Affairs. This fall, we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Master of Public Policy program, which launched in 2015 with nine students. Today, we welcome incoming and returning graduate candidates across advanced degree programs and continue to refine our agile education framework, which emphasizes experiential learning and collaboration efforts with practitioners and alumni in the field. Our commitment to student-centered growth remains stronger than ever.

Our undergraduate programs are thriving, attracting students from various backgrounds who are passionate about public service and leadership. This semester, more than 60 undergraduates are participating in the Civic Houston Internship Program, now in its 29th year. The campus and the surrounding community are invited to join the Civic Engagement Boot Camp on Sept. 12 ahead of the upcoming elections. The daylong workshop and other student-centered activities are newly supported by a national grant aimed at amplifying voter education engagement among students. The Next Generation Leadership Academy welcomes its fourth cohort, offering comprehensive development and national networking through The Volcker Alliance’s affiliation. Students like public policy major and returning CHIP intern Rebecca Mejia, who is also part of the academy, exemplify the transformative power of combining academic rigor with real-world experience.

We are also excited to welcome new leadership and introduce new initiatives. Brandon Williams joins us as director of the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership, continuing the impactful work of founding director Dan Engster. The center’s fall speaker series, featuring national voices on the ethics of technology, privacy and democracy, starts on Sept. 18 with best-selling author Catherine Price. Maggie Padilla returns to the Hobby School as director of academic advising, bringing over 17 years of experience in higher education to support our students. Meanwhile, the Center for Public Policy has launched the SPACE City Panel, a longitudinal survey in partnership with the National Opinion Research Center, to provide groundbreaking regional insights into the critical issues facing area residents.

I invite you to join us for thought-provoking lectures, hands-on workshops or other insightful events, both in-person or online. We look forward to seeing you there!

Jim Granato, Ph.D.
Dean, Hobby School of Public Affairs
University of Houston