The LBJ School of Public Affairs is proud to announce the winners of its 2026 Outstanding Alumni Awards: R. Paul Kinscherff (MPAff/MBA '85) and Katie Fine (MPAff ’15). Kinscherff will receive the Distinguished Public Service Award, while Fine has been selected for the LBJ Rising Leader Award.
“This year’s recipients reflect exactly what we hope for in every student we graduate,” said Interim Dean Paul Pope. “We want our students to leave LBJ with the discipline to lead and the commitment to use what they've learned in service of something larger than themselves. I'm proud to celebrate Katie and Paul for embodying these values.”
Distinguished Public Service Award winner, R. Paul Kinscherff
Paul Kinscherff has been selected as the recipient of this year's Distinguished Public Service Award. Established in 1989, this 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.
“The LBJ School taught me to think critically, evaluate objectively, act honestly, and communicate effectively," Kinscherff said. "These lessons, imparted by a fantastic faculty, enabled me to succeed – and serve – at senior levels in large public and private organizations. They shaped both my perspectives and my career, and to this day remind me that the real meaning and measure of service is helping others succeed."
Kinscherff spent more than two decades in senior executive roles at the Boeing Company, where he led corporate development, international finance, treasury and investor relations initiatives, and served as President of Boeing Middle East. His career brought extensive experience in international business, strategic planning and organizational leadership, which he later applied to higher education as an Executive in Residence at both the LBJ School and McCombs School of Business.
A longtime supporter of the LBJ School, Kinscherff has served on its Dean’s Advisory Council, guest lectures at the school and, with his wife Ada, established the Kinscherff Fellows endowment to support students pursuing dual degrees and finance fellowships. He continues to serve the university through the Texas Exes and other advisory roles.
LBJ Rising Leader Award winner, Katie Fine
Katie Fine has been selected as the recipient of this year's LBJ Rising Leader Award. This award recognizes the efforts of our newer 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.”
Fine currently serves as the Senior Campaign Strategist in Legislative Affairs & Public Policy at Best Friends Animal Society, where she works nationally and in Texas to advance animal welfare policy and strengthen community-based approaches to animal sheltering. Throughout her career, Fine has worked across issues including animal welfare, affordable housing and community development, bringing together policymakers, nonprofit organizations and community leaders to address complex challenges and advance policy solutions.
Fine remains actively involved with the LBJ School community as a member of the LBJ School Alumni Austin Chapter board. Through her professional work and continued service to the LBJ community, she exemplifies the school’s commitment to public service and creating meaningful policy change.
“My time at LBJ fundamentally changed the way I approach public service," Fine said. "The school taught me to look beyond individual policy issues and understand the systems, institutions, stakeholders, and communities that shape them."
Join us at Party on the Plaza to celebrate!
The LBJ School will honor these outstanding individuals on Thursday, Sept. 24, during a ceremony and officially welcome the incoming class of students to the LBJ community as part of our Party on the Plaza event.
Visit the Alumni Recognition page for more information on the LBJ School awards and previous winners.