Hobby School of Public Affairs

Hobby School of Public Affairs The Hobby School of Public Affairs is a thriving resource for public affairs education and research.

The Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston is a thriving resource for public affairs education, research and civic engagement directed by Dean Jim Granato. Future generations of leaders are prepared to face unique challenges across sectors and various industries through interdisciplinary coursework, relevant research, training in ethics and leadership and experiential learning

opportunities. Research at the Hobby School incorporates objective and rigorous methodologies to focus on the issues important to Texas and the nation. Students can study public policy or public administration, minor in public leadership or gain real-world experience at a paid internship in Houston, Austin or Washington, D.C. Professionals can earn the Certified Public Manager designation through a nationally accredited leadership training program or the public policy certificate programs.

Meet the 2026–27 Hobby School Student Civic Ambassadors! 🎉 They will lead fellow Coogs in learning about upcoming electi...
09/08/2026

Meet the 2026–27 Hobby School Student Civic Ambassadors! 🎉 They will lead fellow Coogs in learning about upcoming elections while encouraging student engagement in voter education initiatives. They’ll also help coordinate civic programming on campus and foster partnerships with student organizations and community stakeholders.

The program is supported by a national grant from the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition and led by Program Director Jessica Ruland O’Connor.

In the latest edition of “Letter from Texas,” author Richard Murray examines why the Texas governor’s race, long conside...
09/04/2026

In the latest edition of “Letter from Texas,” author Richard Murray examines why the Texas governor’s race, long considered safely Republican, has become unexpectedly competitive, with incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott holding narrow leads over Democratic challenger state Rep. Gina Hinojosa in recent polls. Hinojosa has emerged as a strong challenger who could benefit from improved Democratic performance. Read the issue at uh.edu/hobby/murrayletter.

Meet the newest members of the Next Generation Leadership Academy! These five UH undergraduates are preparing for career...
09/02/2026

Meet the newest members of the Next Generation Leadership Academy! These five UH undergraduates are preparing for careers in public service through a national network created by The Volcker Alliance, a collaborative initiative aligned with the Hobby School’s mission.

Program Director Emily Janowski facilitates professional development opportunities, site visits and engaging activities that explore leadership and policy issues, preparing students to lead on campus and in their communities.

Meet the Fall 2026 Civic Houston Interns! Nearly 50 Coogs from various majors, including public policy, business, psycho...
09/01/2026

Meet the Fall 2026 Civic Houston Interns! Nearly 50 Coogs from various majors, including public policy, business, psychology, political science, accounting, English and computer science, are gaining hands-on experience in government, nonprofit and campaign offices this semester.

Program Director Jessica Ruland O'Connor welcomed the students, who also heard from former Civic Houston Intern and Leland Fellow Hector Doratt. Doratt reflected on how his Hobby School experiences helped shape his path to public service and his current role in the district office of U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher.

With a dynamic midterm election season, interns will log volunteer hours with political campaigns or a voter engagement project. Six are returning interns, 16 are public policy majors and 11 are first-generation college students.

Join us in welcoming Patrick Williamson as the newest Elizabeth D. Rockwell Visiting Professor at the Hobby School of Pu...
08/31/2026

Join us in welcoming Patrick Williamson as the newest Elizabeth D. Rockwell Visiting Professor at the Hobby School of Public Affairs.

Williamson earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Oxford. His scholarship explores charitable giving, moral obligation, intergenerational ethics, and decision-making under conditions of risk and uncertainty.

As a visiting professor, Williamson will advance the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center’s mission of promoting ethical leadership and public service by engaging students in how ethical and political philosophy shape public policy evaluation. We’re excited to welcome him to the Hobby School community!

📣 Save the date for the Civic Engagement Boot Camp! Join us for a day of interactive learning designed to give you the k...
08/28/2026

📣 Save the date for the Civic Engagement Boot Camp!

Join us for a day of interactive learning designed to give you the knowledge and tools to participate in your communities. Through skill-building exercises and discussions, you’ll deepen your understanding of elections, what’s on the November ballot 🗳️ and how to get involved. Learn more about the workshop and register today at uh.edu/hobby/community/cebc.

08/27/2026

This month marks 10 years of the Hobby School of Public Affairs as a standalone school. From its roots as the Center for Public Policy, the Hobby School has continued to expand its impact through interdisciplinary education, rigorous research and public service opportunities.

For a decade, we’ve built on that strong foundation to prepare future leaders, inform public dialogue and strengthen communities. Here’s to the next chapter! 🎊

Big conversations. New opportunities. Real-world experiences. This fall, the Hobby School is bringing nationally recogni...
08/26/2026

Big conversations. New opportunities. Real-world experiences. This fall, the Hobby School is bringing nationally recognized voices to campus, launching a new program for veterans and their families, and connecting students with hands-on learning that builds a foundation for an impactful career.

🎤 The New Yorker’s Andrew Marantz | Sept. 24
🗳️Civic Engagement Boot Camp | Oct. 2
💬 Houston Futures Festival | Oct. 3

Explore the latest Hobby Headlines newsletter 📰 at https://bit.ly/4wTpTEi.

Get ready for the semester with your Student Starter Kit. 🧰 Explore a new speaker series on democracy, attend a communit...
08/25/2026

Get ready for the semester with your Student Starter Kit. 🧰 Explore a new speaker series on democracy, attend a community festival in the historic Third Ward featuring live performances and workshops on issues shaping Houston’s future, and connect with Hobby School alumni. Stay informed through Hobby Headlines ✉️ and the student resources page on our website. Sign up, show up and get started!

Lock in early, Coogs. The Hobby School team can help you carve a path to success. Have questions about course registrati...
08/24/2026

Lock in early, Coogs. The Hobby School team can help you carve a path to success. Have questions about course registration, leadership development opportunities or internships? Make your way to the Student Services office in Suite 5 on the ground floor of the Bates Law Building.

Address

4104 Martin Luther King Boulevard
Houston, TX
77204

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+17137433970

Website

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