Classes are officially underway, which means the LBJ School of Public Affairs is welcoming a new group of students to campus, including its second-ever undergraduate class.
One of those students is Liam Demory (BAPubAff '30), who grew up in Southern California before moving to Madrid, Spain, with his family four years ago. Living abroad has given Demory a broader perspective, allowing him to experience a new culture, connect with people from different backgrounds and see firsthand how the issues he cares about affect people and communities.
Now, he’s bringing that perspective to Austin as he begins his first semester at The University of Texas at Austin and the LBJ School.
“I want to solve real-world problems, and I know the LBJ School is the place for that.”
UT Austin stood out to Demory for its mix of academics, school spirit, and active campus community. As someone who loves sports and being around people, he knew Austin would be a good fit.
But the LBJ School was what truly set UT apart. Demory was drawn to the fact that LBJ is more than just a public policy program. It is a school dedicated to public affairs, with a long history of working closely with government and public service. As one of LBJ's first undergraduate students, Demory also sees a unique opportunity to help shape the program as it continues to grow.
“It's special because I am someone with the responsibility of defining what this program becomes.”
He hopes to bring his experience living abroad into the classroom while learning from classmates with perspectives and experiences of their own. Living in Spain has also influenced the policy issues Demory cares about most, particularly immigration.
He has watched immigration become a major topic of conversation in Spain, including debates surrounding migrants arriving in Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa. Seeing those conversations happen in a country he now calls home made the issue feel immediate and personal to him.
In the U.S., Demory said, immigration policy had often felt like something happening far away. In Spain, he saw how directly those issues can affect communities and people he knew. That experience is part of what he hopes to bring with him to LBJ: a desire to understand policy not just as an idea, but as something that has a real impact on people's lives.
For now, Demory is focused on getting settled in Austin and meeting people. Coming from Madrid and knowing few people in Austin, he's looking forward to finding his community on campus. He's planning to rush and, of course, is especially excited for Longhorn football.
During his time at LBJ, Demory hopes to turn his ideas into action and find ways to make an impact through public service.
After graduation, he's interested in pursuing a career in international law or diplomacy, with the goal of working around the world and continuing to learn from different cultures and perspectives. But first, he has a new city to explore, new classmates to meet, and a brand-new undergraduate program to help shape.
Welcome to the LBJ family, Liam!
Learn more about the LBJ School's Bachelor of Public program. Applications close December 1.