Skills for Civic Leadership

Instructor: Emily Bhandari, MPAff, MSSW

The principal objective of the course was to build skills and offer opportunities to practice what is needed to become an effective civic leader, including: as an everyday citizen; as an organization leader; or as an elected or appointed official. 

Students heard from active professionals about their career journeys and receive personalized feedback reports on their own leadership strengths. 

Students  increased their knowledge and skills about public leadership and feel more confident in their ability to engage in civic life.

SPRING 2026 REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Open to any undergraduate or graduate student at UT-Austin.

Undergraduates: PA 355 Unique #: 63070

Graduates: PA 388K Unique #: 63275

Spring 2024 Speakers

Debbie Bresette

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Founder, Bastrop County Cares 

Marjorie Clifton

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Media Commentator 

Jessica Colon

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Republican Strategist 

Theresa Gage

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Former Vice President of External Affairs and Corporate Communications, ERCOT

Lyssette Galvan

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Public Policy Director, National Alliance for Mental Illness - Texas

The Honorable Larry Gonzales

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Former Texas State Representative 

The Honorable Sherri Greenberg

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Former Texas State Representative
 Assistant Dean, The LBJ School of Public Affairs

Ben Leffler

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Chief of Staff, Austin City Councilman Ryan Atler 

Bryan Mares

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Government Relations Director, National Association of Social Workers-Texas

Ron Nirenberg

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Mayor of San Antonio

Tyler Norris

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Republican Strategist

Beto O’Rourke

Beto O'Rourke

Former U.S. Representative 

Katie Popp

Katie Popp

Workplace Consultant and former Employee of the Great Places to Work Institute 

Christina Tzintzun Ramirez

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President of NextGen America
 Adjunct Professor, LBJ School of Public Affairs

Jenifer Sarver

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Communications Consultant and Lecturer at Moody College of Communication 

Larry Schooler

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Former City of Austin Manager for Public Engagement and Assistant Professor of Practice, Moody College of Communication 

Nirav Shah

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Chief of Staff, Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard

Evan Smith

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Founder and Former CEO, The Texas Tribune and Professor of Practice, The LBJ School of Public Affairs

Jason Stanford

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Democratic Strategist 

Joe Straus

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Former Speaker, Texas House of Representatives 

Savin Ven Johnson

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Former Task Force Leader, FEMA Covid-19 Vaccination Force 

Cliff Walker

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Co-founder of Seeker Strategies