Spotlights

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. 
Graphic with a headshot of Zhina Shen

CONNECT Project Spotlight: A Story to Tell at Joshua's Stage

April 25, 2024
As she was completing her PhD in Special Education last fall, CONNECT fellow Zhina Shen worked alongside local nonprofit Joshua’s Stage to further develop their data collection methods and improve their ability to measure, track, and communicate the impact of their programs.
Graphic with a headshot of Robert

Studying the Polarization of Healthcare: Spotlight on Robert Brehm

March 12, 2024
Portfolio alum Robert Brehm's current doctoral research focuses on the polarization of public healthcare issues.
Headshot of Ziyi on an orange background with the Texas State Capitol in the background.

CONNECT Project Spotlight: Developing Policies to Address Medical Debt with RAISE Texas

Jan. 5, 2024
In spring 2023, RAISE Texas began working with CONNECT to examine the effect that medical debt has on Texans, especially those who are low-income and in communities of color. CONNECT fellow Ziyi Wang worked with RAISE Texas to further develop the data needed to propose model bills in the 2025 state legislative session addressing medical debt and healthcare barriers in the state.