Spotlights

Headshot of Evelyn Barbaran

December Grad Spotlight: Evelyn Barbaran, MPAff

Dec. 18, 2024
Master of Public Affairs student Evelyn Barbaran is graduating this December with the Nonprofit Studies Portfolio from the RGK Center.
Dr. Landuyt and Dr. Rehnborg presenting data at the front of a classroom.

RGK Faculty Develop Index for Volunteer Engagement Tool

Nov. 20, 2024
The Index for Volunteer Involvement (IVE), an organizational self-assessment tool developed at UT Austin, is helping organizations better engage volunteers and community groups in their work.
Graphic with a headshot of Lily Trieu, overlaid on a photo of I Voted stickers

Building Common Ground: Spotlight on Lily Trieu

Nov. 4, 2024
Portfolio alum Lily Trieu is the Founder and Executive Director of Asian Texans for Justiuce, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated ti engaging Texas' diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the democratic process.
A Photo of Suzanne Smith standing in front of a whiteboard, tlaking to the classroom of students.

Social Entrepreneurship Certificate Launched at the LBJ School, Powered by the RGK Center

Oct. 11, 2024
On Friday, October 4th, the Social Entrepreneurship Certificate at the LBJ School of Public Affairs launched.
Group photo of Larissa, Geraldine, and two guest speakers.

Cine-Activism: LBJ Students Create Community with Cinema

Oct. 9, 2024
The second annual Cine-Activism film festival was hosted by the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the Lorenzo Long Institute of Latin American Studies at the end of September. Portfolio student Larissa Costa and LBJ student Geraldine Fandiño organized the event to bring together an alliance of vulnerable communities in conversation within academia.
Photo of a classroom with students sittin gin rows. Three panelists and a student moderator are sitting in a row at the front of the classroom.

Event Recap: Nonprofit Careers in Legislative Advocacy

Oct. 2, 2024
UT Austin students and alumni gathered at the LBJ School last Tuesday to discuss the critical role of legislative advocacy in policymaking and to explore career opportunities in the field. Panelists discussed their personal experiences working in legislative advocacy through nonprofits and shared tips on squeezing the most out of the graduate school experience.
Group photo, including UT Austin faculty and students, standing in front of the Office of the ACC in Kenya

Maji ni Uwai (Water is Life): UT Austin Students and Faculty Research Water Security in Eastern Kenya

Sept. 23, 2024
This summer, a group of UT undergraduates and faculty traveled to Eastern Kenya to address the region’s water security issue as a part of the university’s 2023-2024 Presidential Award for Global Learning.
Marlene and team in New Mexico

Binational Climate and Water Policy in Mexico: 2024 Global Fellowships

Aug. 22, 2024
LBJ School students Marlene Plua, Sam Stone, and Brandon Mulder traveled to Mexico over the summer to complete their internships in collaboration with NGOs, governmental agencies, and local universities. Learn more about their experience in Mexico and in border areas along the Rio Grande.
Zander Mintz sits with five other people on a blanket on the beach at sunset. They are smiling at the camera and making peace signs with their fingers.

Environmental Sustainability and Peace in Japan: 2024 Global Fellowships

Aug. 9, 2024
LBJ School students Zander Mintz and Neëma Lubin traveled to Japan over the summer to complete their internships with NGOs like the Institute for Global Environment Studies and the Saskawa Peace Foundation. Learn more about their experience in Hayama and Hiroshima.
Graphic with Muhammad's headshot and degree information, overlaid on a photo of the Austin skyline

CONNECT Project Spotlight: Developing a Grant Evaluation Tool for Nonprofits

June 25, 2024
LBJ student Muhammad Qasim worked with the City of Austin’s Office of Innovation to develop a Grant Funding Opportunity Evaluation tool through the CONNECT program last spring. The tool, which was released this week, can be used by potential grantees to assess whether a funding opportunity is the right fit for their organization.