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The reputation of the Hobby School of Public Affairs as a thriving resource for public affairs education, innovative research and civic engagement is evident in our students and alumni who are active in their communities and workplaces. We turn the spotlight on emerging leaders and professionals making a difference across various industries and sectors.
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Common Ground: Meet the Hobby School Peer Advisor
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Meet Danielle Guevara, the 2024 College Peer Advisor for the Hobby School. Danielle has been quick on her feet alongside Scott Mason, program director for academic advising, helping with the spring commencement and with incoming Hobby School students as they embark on their educational journey. She supports new student orientations and the course enrollment process this summer and meets new Coogs on common ground, sharing her perspective and experience as a public policy junior.
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"I find joy in helping students navigate the transition to college and being a peer they can look to if they have any trouble in their college career," says the first-generation college student and native Houstonian. The Hobby School's undergraduate program fits Danielle's public service career plans. She was drawn to its mission, and the faculty and staff invested in her success. A class project on campus voter education sharpened her organizing and collaboration skills. Later, a class guest speaker heightened her interest in housing policy: "My parents always ensured my siblings and I had a roof over our heads. When I learned that many struggle to find a place to call home, I wanted to help. I want to pay it forward and learn how to advocate for people looking for a permanent home." When asked what advice she imparts to incoming freshman and transfer students, she shares this: "Take advantage of the countless resources and opportunities at the Hobby School and UH. Also, take ownership of your degree, but also relax. There are times to have fun and other times to stand on business." Beyond her summer assignment, she is a member of the school's undergraduate student advisory committee, where she shares insights to enhance the student experience and increase student engagement.
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MPA Candidate Receives Prestigious Fellows Award
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Congratulations to Master of Public Affairs candidate David Ramirez for his selection as a Lydia Mendoza Fellow with the Center for Mexican American and Latino Studies (CMALS) at the University of Houston. The award is named for native Houstonian and international songstress Lydia Mendoza, who was inducted into the Tejano Music Hall of Fame in 1984. It provides a two-year $16,500 stipend to high-achieving UH graduate students whose interests incorporate Mexican and Latino studies and culture and who commit to inspiring other students through their experiences and achievements.
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In choosing the MPA, David wanted the flexibility to engage in diverse courses he could directly apply to public administration management. He sought an interdisciplinary program that would prepare him to be a leading professional and provide a strong foundation for the next step in his academic journey, a doctoral degree. "My experience at the Hobby School has only solidified the importance of being a leader with an equity mindset," says David. "I firmly believe that where a path doesn't exist, one must be forged to create opportunities for others. After my first year at the Hobby School, I am more empowered than ever to drive change and develop opportunities for those in my community and beyond its borders." David said the public administration and policy implementation course taught by Peter M. Koelling has had a significant impact. He points to being able to apply the coursework on program implementation and evaluation directly to his work with Capital IDEA Houston, a nonprofit that empowers the community by educating and training underemployed adults for highly skilled careers. He says, "This course taught me the importance of using various methods to evaluate the success of a policy or program to ensure efficiency and effectiveness without sacrificing quality of service." David is a member and has held leadership positions in Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc., volunteers with the CMALS, and participated in the Network of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration Student Simulation Competition at Rice University in the spring of 2024. He was recently elected as the Hobby School representative in the UH Graduate Professional Student Association.
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Nonprofit Summer Projects Build Professionalism, Data Analysis Experience
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Master of Public Policy candidate Michelle Gabriel wanted to expand her influence in the public sphere following a career as a high school counselor. In assessing her experience and vision, she set about redefining her goals to align with her intention to tangibly impact others. It was through the MPP program that she began forging a new path. "My research methods courses with Professor Buttorff were challenging but great for developing my research skills," she said. "Research is essential for policymaking, and I feel the program is preparing me well."
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This summer, Michelle was selected to participate in the Social Economy and Enterprise Academy (SEEA), a funded summer internship program matching University of Houston students with area nonprofits to fulfill research and data analysis projects. "SEEA has been an excellent opportunity for hands-on experience," Michelle added. "My class assignments have exposed me to working in policy on a theoretical level. This allowed me to do real work for a nonprofit. Collaborating with a team and working through the process has been an invaluable experience. Through the Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement (CCPPI) affordable housing initiative, my team and I have researched appraisal values in various Houston districts and analyzed the growth in those areas."
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Divya Valipe is also part of the CCPPI housing project team. She says the unique internship has enabled her to implement her academic knowledge, such as defining policy goals, completing cost analyses and evaluating the efficacy and feasibility of the team's proposals. "I quickly realized that real-world projects have uncertainty," said Divya. "I learned how to communicate clearly, prioritize information, narrow my focus and simultaneously work on multiple fronts—all skills that will be valuable to me in the future."
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The UH senior is a dual major in data science and public policy. She was drawn to the Hobby School's strong quantitative analysis foundation, supporting her data-based approach to solving problems. This year, the program received a boost from Workforce Solutions to fund the 22 participants with a $2,000 stipend each. Guided by faculty, teams work with nonprofit leadership on various project objectives ranging from program evaluation and cost-benefit analysis for homeownership to economic development strategies and regional labor-need projections. The co-curricular program was initiated four years ago with funds from the UH Office of the Provost's Cougar Initiative to Engage. Pablo Pinto of the Hobby School and Germán Cubas and Piruz Saboury of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences are the program directors.
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Leveraging Opportunities, Building Careers
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Many former Civic Houston Interns have used their experience to start careers in public service. Harris County Justice of the Peace Steve Duble hired Fernando Rivera as a legal data analyst following his stellar performance as a Civic Houston Intern and earning his bachelor's degree in economics in May 2024. Fernando improved the court's productivity and operations through data collection, analysis and reporting. The part-time spring assignment provided Fernando with hands-on training while supporting Judge Duble's mission of making the court experience more approachable and understandable for all litigants through transparency.
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Fernando is passionate about using data and programming to improve outcomes and positively impact his community. He was active on campus through the UH College Democrats, has lobbied on Capitol Hill and hopes to attend law school. He also represented the university at the 2024 U.S. Intercollegiate Boxing Association, saying: "Boxing was the foundation of my academic and professional success – helping me develop intense discipline and work ethic." Host offices for the Civic Houston Internship Program vary from governmental offices and nonprofits to social impact organizations and electoral campaigns that support students seeking a mission-oriented internship. Learn more about supporting a UH intern by becoming a host office. Jessica Ruland O’Connor of the Hobby School oversees internship programs in Houston, Austin and Washington, D.C.
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Adventures in Alumni Leadership with Nimra Zubair
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The Hobby School Alumni Association is a testament to the impact of our former students. Alumni like Nimra Zubair (MPA' 20) are the practitioners shaping our communities. They work across industries, nonprofits and government organizations, all with a shared commitment to public service. Nimra has a background in project and emergency management, education and social media strategy. Her graduate public administration and undergraduate political science degrees helped develop her skills in crisis response, multilingual communication and leadership. Nimra reflected on her university experience and service as the alumni association director of communications.
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Q: How long have you been involved with the alumni association, and what inspired you to volunteer? A: "I took on the role of Director of Communications for the Hobby School Alumni Association in September 2022,having served as a board member the year prior. My motivation to volunteer stemmed from a desire to stay connected with my classmates and professors." Q: What do you most enjoy about serving on the alumni board? A: "I enjoy helping alumni connect with opportunities to network, attend events, meet new people and share their experiences and current journeys." Q: What advice do you have for our new alums as they chart their paths and become an extension of our mission in the community? A: "I advise new alumni to stay connected with their classmates and instructors while supporting others as they advance. Helping others as we grow is crucial; it's the key to our collective progress.
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Applications Open for Austin Internship Program
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The Hobby School is recruiting undergraduates from all majors with an interest in state government and politics for the 2025 Hobby Fellows internship program through Friday, Oct. 4. Hobby Fellows earn a stipend to live in Austin and work at the Texas State Capitol in the offices of state representatives and state senators during the 89th Texas Legislature. Legislative interns play vital roles during the biennial lawmaking session by working on research, drafting bills, attending committee hearings, special projects and general office operations. Juniors and seniors with strong writing and interpersonal skills and a passion for public service are considered the ideal candidates.
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"The Hobby Fellows program has been a life-changing experience—from developing strong professional skills to building a wealth of knowledge about policy issues and the legislative process. Beyond this, the frequent opportunities to meet with and assist constituents and interest groups have been extremely fulfilling. I am grateful to the Hobby School for making my time in Austin possible and setting me up for a successful post-graduation career." Cyrus Hosseini, 2023 Hobby Fellow in the office of Texas state Rep. Ann Johnson
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Hobby Leadership Award Nominations Open
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The Hobby School is seeking nominations for the 2024 Hobby Leadership Award. Awards will be presented to a former Hobby School intern (Civic Houston Intern, Harris Fellow, Hobby Fellow-Austin or Leland Fellow-Washington) and a graduate of the Certified Public Manager Program. The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 4. Nominees should be distinguished in their profession, leaders in civic engagement, and committed to improving the lives of others. Nominate someone you know or nominate yourself to help shine the spotlight on the dedicated leaders in our community who are making a difference.
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Former Harris Fellow and recent UH alumna Daniela Castillo will pursue a juris doctorate at Baylor Law School in Waco, Texas, on a full scholarship in the fall of 2024. Daniela holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a minor in phronesis. The UH Honors College graduate balanced academic responsibilities with those of a student-athlete in track and cross-country as part of the Big 12 Conference. During her time as a Harris Fellow in the office of Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Daniela drafted ceremonial documents, studied the impacts of extreme heat, worked to resolve constituent concerns and generated new partnerships for the precinct.
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“This achievement would not have been possible without [Jessica Ruland’s] support. Thank you for pushing me to excel as a Harris Fellow last summer, helping me navigate the internship, and now earning a full scholarship to attend law school. Your support and recommendations played a crucial role in my success.” Daniela Castillo, 2023 Harris Fellow in the office of Harris County Precinct 2
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Stay connected with the Hobby School and keep others in the loop about how Hobby School students, interns and alumni are making a difference. Tell us about your Hobby School experience.
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