News

The Patman Center is excited to announce the 2026 Research Award for Advancing Democracy winners. The research award seeks to recognize outstanding thinkers that aim to help our democracy thrive. We hope that by uplifting their research and supporting their exceptional insight, we can continue to successfully advance democracy in our community and beyond.

In partnership with The Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy at The University of Missouri and the Rothermere American Institute at Oxford University, The Patman Center supported its inaugural cohort in attending a summer-term at Oxford University in July of 2026.

The Patman Center proudly hosted the 2026 LBJ Public Service Leadership Weekend on July 17-20th in collaboration with Public Policy and International Affairs. LBJ welcomed students from across the nation to explore careers and learning in public service and public administration on our campus.

We are excited to introduce our 2026 Summer Patman Scholars! Our two scholars are exemplary students who demonstrate exceptional promise as future civic leaders and are spending the summer gaining firsthand experience in policymaking and public service.

From Texas elected officials to candidates on the campaign trail, from courtroom battles with Big Tech to the NBA, the Spring 2026 semester brought some of the most compelling voices in public life to the LBJ School.

The Patman Center's Maymester in Washington D.C. gives graduate students a front-row seat to federal policymaking — and sends them home ready to lead.

The Patman Center is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Summer in Oxford Fellowships. Through a partnership with the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy at the University of Missouri and Oxford University’s Rothermere American Institute, UT Austin students will participate in a four-week study-away program at Oxford University in July 2026.

The Patman Center continues to prepare students for impactful roles in public service through its course, Skills for Civic Leadership. Designed to equip students with the tools needed to lead as engaged citizens, organizational leaders, and future public officials, the course emphasizes both practical skill-building and personal development. Through direct engagement with practitioners, interactive workshops, and structured reflection, students leave the course with not only a stronger understanding of public leadership—but also the confidence to actively step into it.

The Patman Center for Civic and Political Engagement at the LBJ School of Public Affairs is proud to announce the 2026 Spring Patman Scholars. This fellowship supports UT Austin students who demonstrate exceptional promise as future civic leaders by providing financial assistance for internships directly with elected or appointed government officials.

The Patman Center for Civic and Political Engagement at the LBJ School of Public Affairs is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Maymester in Washington, D.C. Scholarships. These scholarships support UT students participating in the May-term course "Effective Advocacy for Influencing Federal Policymaking", an immersive academic experience that places students directly in the heart of federal policymaking in the nation's capital.