A Message from Dean DeShazo on His LBJ School Tenure and Appointment to Duke University

Dear LBJ Community, 
 
I am writing to share that, beginning this summer, I will transition to a new role as Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.

Serving as your dean over the last five years has been the privilege of a lifetime, and I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished together. Here are a few highlights that reflect the strength and momentum of the LBJ community:  
 
Expanded academic programs and enrollment. 

• The LBJ School grew from offering three degrees to six, adding a Bachelor of Public Affairs, a Master of National Security and a revamped Executive Master of Public Leadership. We also reduced costs for students pursuing an undergraduate and master’s degree or two master’s degrees through the development of 13 new dual and integrated degree programs in partnership with units across the university, including Civic Leadership, Law, Business and Liberal Arts.
• Our innovative educational credentials have fueled a near doubling of student enrollment at the LBJ School. Our undergraduate program launched with very high demand and enrolled more automatically admitted Texas students than any new major in the past decade. In three years, as we graduate our first undergraduate and Master of National Security cohorts, total enrollment is projected to nearly triple. Our story is not only one of substantial growth, but also of the efficient use of public resources. With a net increase of just eight faculty, we have expanded enrollment by more than 600 students, representing a 200% gain.  

New faculty and augmented faculty excellence. 

• To support this expansion, we have recruited new faculty of practice from senior roles in government, industry, public finance, and journalism. We also hired research faculty trained at leading institutions such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, Stanford, University of Chicago, and Duke.
• Our faculty have boosted their research productivity significantly during my tenure. Grant activity, funding per faculty member, and overall research productivity increased significantly over this period. Faculty members produced more scholarly work, accompanied by a notable rise in research citations.    

Enhanced public civility and broadened viewpoint diversity. 

• We expanded efforts to prepare students for civil discourse and bipartisan policy solutions. The school has hosted a wide range of policymakers across the political spectrum, supported in part by The Patman Center for Civic and Political Engagement and the LBJ Foundation. Students have had the opportunity to engage directly with leaders including former Vice President Mike Pence, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Senator John Cornyn, former Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, former Texas Governor Rick Perry, and political advisor Karl Rove, as well as former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and many others. 

Robust and successful philanthropy growth. 

• During the recently completed fundraising campaign, the LBJ School exceeded its $70 million goal, ultimately raising $81 million. In addition, over the course of the multi-year campaign, the school surpassed its annual fundraising targets by an average of 72%. This philanthropic support included transformative gifts, such as a $10 million contribution from Ambassador Carrin Patman and Jim Derrick to launch The Patman Center for Civic and Political Engagement.    

In closing, I want to express my deep appreciation and gratitude for the LBJ community. These achievements reflect the dedication of our staff, faculty, students, board members, alumni, donors, and members of the LBJ Foundation. Our progress has been driven by collaboration and a shared sense of purpose. The LBJ School will continue to thrive with your dedicated support and advocacy. 

As I transition into this new role, I look forward to staying connected and serving as a resource for the school. I plan to return to Austin regularly.  

The LBJ School will always hold a special place for me. Thank you again for the privilege of serving as your dean.  
 
Warm regards,  
JR DeShazo