Recent LBJ Washington Center Graduate Reflects on DC Concentration Experience

On December 6, the LBJ School celebrated the graduation of the LBJ Washington Center’s 10th cohort. Among them was Victor To (MPAff-DC ’25), who graduated alongside 16 fellow cohort members after completing two semesters in Austin followed by two immersive semesters in Washington, DC. As a newly minted LBJ School alumnus, Victor’s journey reflects the purpose-driven experience at the heart of the DC Concentration. 

Victor’s time in the nation’s capital left a lasting impact on how he sees public policy and the role he hopes to play within it. Living and working in Washington, DC reminded him that policymaking is inherently long-term work. It is often messy, complex, and slow. The experience challenged him to be patient and thoughtful, and it renewed a core belief he carried with him throughout graduate school: the importance of compassion. For Victor, compassion is not a soft concept. It is a discipline that sits at the center of public policy and of seeing the humanity behind the data that shapes national decisions. 

“My time in Washington has reaffirmed my love for public service. It has strengthened my resolve and commitment to do my part. The opportunity to serve the people of my community, my state, and my country is something I will never take for granted.” 

The LBJ School helped Victor refine the skills and perspective needed for that kind of work. In Austin, he learned from faculty who pushed him to write more sharply, think more critically, and question more deeply. Professor Amy Leff emphasized the importance of strong writing. Professors Andrew Waxman and Evan Smith encouraged him to follow every “why” and “why not” to its fullest. Professor Jeffrey Yorg helped him better understand how our government spends tax dollars, giving him insight into the real-world impacts of public finance. In DC, Bill Shute challenged him to consider America’s institutions with greater nuance. Professors Elizabeth Rybicki, Kate Eltrich, and Matthew Cornelius helped him understand the mechanics and processes that underlie major policy decisions, lessons he put into practice daily during his time on Capitol Hill. 

Victor completed his policy apprenticeship with the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Minority), working for Ranking Member Robert Garcia. His work ranged from conducting policy research for hearings and investigations to engaging with federal agencies and national stakeholders. Each day, he saw firsthand how the ideas discussed in LBJ classrooms came to life in the halls of Congress. 

One message from his time in DC resonated deeply with him. Early in the program, Director of the LBJ Washington Center Bill Shute told the cohort, “You were chosen because you care.” Victor carried that reminder with him throughout the year as a grounding idea that underscored the importance of compassion in a world often defined by division. It is a lesson he says he will take with him wherever he goes next. 

"In an era of division, where fear and cynicism are often the loudest, the most radical thing you can do is to love harder and do good wherever you can—for ourselves, and for those who come after."

That next step is already underway. After graduating with the 10th DC Concentration cohort, Victor will continue serving on Capitol Hill through a fellowship with the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, remaining on the Oversight Committee. 

For Victor, the LBJ School was not just a place to earn a degree. It was a place to gain the tools, mentors, and understanding needed to serve with intention. His time in DC did not just shape his perspective. It strengthened his commitment to a career anchored in compassion, curiosity, and a deep belief in the power of public service. 

“For all of us working in the world of public policy, compassion should drive all we do.”