Alumni Spotlights & Events

The LBJ School of Public Affairs celebrated the academic achievements of its 53rd graduating class during a ceremony at The University of Texas at Austin. May 11th marked the culmination of rigorous study for 167 students with an audience of over 900 inside Lady Bird Johnson Auditorium.

Mauliola Harley Gonsalves, a first-generation college graduate from Pukalani, Hawai’i, has continued her commitment to public service after graduating from the LBJ School in December of 2023. As a Legislative Correspondent in DC for the senior Senator of her home state, Harley works to amplify indigenous voices and shape federal policy through collaborative problem-solving.

Shamina Singh, an alumna from The University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School, will be back on the Forty Acres on May 11 to deliver the graduation address to the class of 2024 at her alma mater.

Kristin Morton, a Policy Analyst at the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, shares the insights and impact learned as a Master of Global Policy Studies graduate from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. The Odessa, Texas native credits the LBJ School with enhancing her problem solving and public policy skills.

The LBJ School is proud to announce the launch of "Remembering Professor Barbara Jordan: An LBJ School Oral History," a collection of memories and first-hand experiences celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of public servant and public policy professor, Barbara Jordan.

The LBJ Women's Campaign School co-hosted an alumni summit on February 12th alongside The Network. The goal of the event was to inspire alumni to take on even larger leadership roles in their communities.

Through the DC Concentration, Will Barrett (MGPS-DC ) found himself in the rooms where foreign policy happens. He took LBJ classes at night and worked by day, notably contributing to subnational diplomacy goals at Foreign Policy for America and gaining insights into federal government operations at the Department of State’s European and Eurasian Bureau. He graduates on Dec. 9 with a readiness to change the world.

Since earning both a master’s degree and PhD from the LBJ School, Cesar Espinosa Martinez’s career has spanned national security, resilience and business strategy. A few years ago, he founded his own venture, Intelligence Mill, to provide businesses and organizations data-driven research, insights and solutions. Recently, he orchestrated a successful statewide tour fostering cross-border collaborations and talent pipelines, leaving an important mark in both Mexican and U.S. business spheres. Here, he and his wife tell us more about his time at the LBJ School.

Alumni leaders in healthcare, financial justice and global security have been chosen for this year’s outstanding alumni awards.

About 150 students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends congregated for the 2023 LBJ Picnic on the Plaza and State of the College address on Tuesday, Aug. 29. Learn more about Dean JR DeShazo’s address and his vision for the LBJ School this year.