Alumni Spotlights & Events

The 89th Texas Legislative Session has officially come to a close, marking the end of months of late nights, tough negotiations and impactful policymaking. Throughout the Capitol, the presence of LBJ School students and alumni was clear. Whether serving as state representatives, legislative aides, research assistants or policy analysts, they played a key role in shaping the future of Texas.

The LBJ School of Public Affairs celebrated the academic achievements of its 54th graduating class during a ceremony in Lady Bird Johnson Auditorium at The University of Texas at Austin.

Fernanda Cáceres, a 2023 graduate of the LBJ School’s Master of Global Policy Studies (MGPS) program and RGK’s Nonprofit Portfolio program, is applying lessons she learned in graduate school to her work in food and water systems at The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental nonprofit.

Alejandra Y. Castillo, an alumna of The University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, will return to her alma mater on May 10 to deliver the LBJ School’s 2025 commencement address.

Austin's Mayor Pro Tem, Vanessa Fuentes (EMPL '24), uses her EMPL education to drive impactful policy changes, including the successful District Service Funds initiative.

Shannon Miller (MGPS ’24) bridged science and policy at LBJ and is now shaping global environmental strategy at the Climate Imperative Foundation.

Emily Barton’s journey to becoming this year’s DC cohort commencement speaker reflects her deep-rooted Longhorn pride and dedication to public policy and foreign affairs. 

Juan Preciado (MPAff '23) has always been driven by a belief in the transformative power of public service.

Mentorship is a cornerstone of the LBJ School experience, and for Sara Engelhard (MGPS ’24), it proved to be one of the most transformative aspects of her time there.

The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin launched an exciting academic year with its annual State of the College address by Dean JR DeShazo on Thursday, Sept. 26. The address highlighted an amazing 2023-24 academic year with an ambitious vision for the year ahead.