The LBJ School announces its 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award recipients

The LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin is proud to announce the winners of its 2024 Outstanding Alumni Awards: Wayne Roberts (MPAff ‘77) and Sarah Garza (MPAff ‘19). Roberts has been selected for the Distinguished Public Service Award, while Garza will receive the LBJ Rising Leader Award.

“We are proud to celebrate the achievements of Wayne Roberts and Sarah Garza, who exemplify the values and commitment to public service that the LBJ School cultivates in its students,” said Dean JR DeShazo. “Their dedication to leadership, integrity, and service has made a profound impact in their respective fields and communities, and we are honored to recognize their outstanding contributions with these awards.”

Wayne Roberts, Class of 1977, has been selected for the Distinguished Public Service Award. Established in 1989, the Distinguished Public Service Award is presented each year to an LBJ alum whose career and public service record best represents the values and mission of the LBJ School. Criteria for the award includes contributions to public policy, promoting the advancement of the public affairs vocation, engagement in community service or volunteerism, showing commitment to the LBJ School and its mission, demonstrating leadership, and other attributes. This award is open to professionals from the public, private or nonprofit sectors.

Wayne holds an extensive 50-year career in bipartisan public service exemplifying the breadth of skills and leadership qualities the LBJ School of Public Affairs aims to cultivate. His remarkable career spans a wide range of state government functions, from executive agency management and finance to crisis management and policy development.

He is celebrated for his unwavering integrity and commitment to non-partisan public administration. Notably, his tenure as the interim director of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) was transformative; he stabilized the agency during a critical period and secured a groundbreaking $3 billion reauthorization in 2019. Under his leadership, CPRIT’s funding and impact soared, earning it the 2024 Kay Bailey Hutchison Distinguished Service Award.

His strategic vision also contributed to the establishment of the Coalition for Health Advancement and Research in Texas (CHART) and the successful recruitment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to Dallas. Wayne’s dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, alongside his significant contributions to the LBJ School through mentorship, financial support, and service on advisory councils, underscores his enduring commitment to advancing public service and policy. Wayne Roberts’ career not only reflects exceptional achievement but also embodies the values and aspirations of the LBJ School, making him a truly deserving recipient of this award.

“No higher professional honor can be bestowed on someone than recognition by the institution that launched the person’s career,” said Roberts. “I am deeply gratified by this award.”

“The LBJ School taught me to prioritize competing demands on my time and how to communicate complex policy alternatives to decision makers who have little time to absorb details. I put those skills to work for the people of Texas, and they kept me employed for nearly 50 years. In doing so, I hope that I have honored the legacy of President Johnson.”

Prior Distinguished Public Service Award winners include former Democratic nominee for Georgia Governor, Stacey Abrams (MPAff ‘98), former Colorado Governor, Bill Owens (MPAff ‘75), former CEO of the YWCA, Alejandra Castillo (MPAff ‘98), and Mastercard Executive, Shamina Singh (MPAff ‘97).

Sarah Garza was chosen for the LBJ Rising Leader Award in recognition of her exceptional contributions and leadership. The Rising Leader Award recognizes the efforts of our more recent alumni who exemplify the LBJ mission of “improving the quality of public service in the United States and abroad at all levels of governance and civic engagement.”

Garza exemplifies the values of collaboration, service, belonging, and integrity through her impactful career and community involvement. As the Mobility Industry Partnerships Director at Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Sarah has forged vital partnerships with over 140 stakeholders, including employers, community groups, and project sponsors, to advance workforce development in Central Texas. Her leadership in creating the region’s first Workforce Mobility Industry Sector Partnership and organizing the "Moving Forward: Mobility & Infrastructure Workforce Summit" has significantly contributed to addressing workforce needs and training opportunities for major infrastructure projects.

Additionally, Garza’s dedication is evident in her service on the Federal Highway Administration’s Strategic Workforce Development Implementation Team and the board of Movability, reflecting her unwavering commitment to enhancing local mobility and infrastructure. Her collaborative spirit, service-oriented approach, and strong integrity make her a standout recipient of this award.

“I am deeply honored to receive the LBJ School Rising Leader Award,” said Garza. “My time at the LBJ School not only laid the foundation for my career in public service but also ignited my interest in transportation policy and economic and workforce development.” 

“The LBJ School provided me with invaluable internships and work-based learning opportunities, which have been crucial in my journey. As a sector director, I now advocate for these same opportunities, connecting local talent to the critical infrastructure projects that will shape our region's future.”

Previous winners of the LBJ Rising Leader Award include U.S. Department of State Deputy Team Chief, Drew Masada (MGPS ‘09), Communications Director and Policy Adviser to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Rachel Hoff (MGPS ‘14), Pflugerville City Councilmember, Rudy Metayer (EMPL ‘16) and Chief Executive Officer of the The National Math + Science Initiative Matthew Randazzo (MPAff ‘03).