Effective Advocacy for Influencing Federal Policymaking
Instructor: Emily Bhandari
Open to: All currently enrolled UT students and non-degree seeking professionals
Dates: May 12-16, 2025
Democracy functions best when policymakers receive information on the likely impacts of proposed policy. Located in Washington D.C., students will learn effective advocacy strategies and skills directly from active professionals.
Students will be able to develop an advocacy plan; frame an issue and present a cause to stakeholders; lead education campaigns; motivate decision-makers; recognize allies; and identify threats to success. Students will hear from elected officials, legislative staff, interest group leaders, lobbyists, communication professionals, and think tank representatives.
Students will increase their knowledge about advocating in Washington D.C. and improve their skills around developing an effective advocacy plan.
Maymester Info Sessions
October 16, 2024
12:15 - 1:00 pm
B10 - basement of LBJ - next to Bass Lecture Hall
Pizza will be served!
Maymester in D.C. News
Travel and Accomodations
All travel, overnight accommodations, and transportation while in Washington D.C. are the responsibility of the students participating. No travel or hotels will be pre-arranged. The professor will connect students signed up for the course in December and will encourage them to work together to find shared housing to lower costs in D.C.
Scholarships
Four, $3,000 scholarships will be given to UT students interested in attending the Maymester in D.C. The scholarship can be used for program fees including travel to D.C., hotel accommodations, and transportation while participating in the course.
Scholarship Application Information
Submission Deadline: December 9, 2024
* Students will be notified about our scholarship decision in January, prior to the final add/drop registration period.
To apply for a scholarship, please send an email to LBJPatmanCenter@austin.utexas.edu with the following:
Subject Line: Maymester Scholarship Application
Include in Email Message Body
- Name
- UT EID
- Program (MPAff, MGPS etc.)
- Year (first or second)
- Academic Transcript: Do you consent to OSAA releasing your academic information to the Patman Center? Please write either:
- (Yes) I consent to OSAA releasing my academic information. With consent, we will work with OSAA to get your transcript.
- (No) I do not consent to OSAA releasing my academic information.
Please include the following attachments:
- Resume
- Personal Statement: No more than 1-2 pages Why do you want to attend this Maymester in D.C.? What has motivated you to pursue public service? How will you use this experience to further your career?
- Financial Need Statement: No more than 1-2 paragraphs Please offer an overview of how this financial award will support you. Would you be able to participate in the Maymester in D.C. without financial support? If so, why or why not.
Spring 2024 Speakers:
Viquar Ahmad, Special Assistant to President Biden and Chief U.S. Financial Officer
David Berteau, President and Chief Executive Officer, Professional Services Council
Matthew Cornelius, Managing Director, Federal Industry at Workday
Steve Eichenauer, Partner, Public Strategies Washington, Inc.
Rachel Hoff, Policy Director, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute
Melissa Lazarin, Senior Program Officer, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Sean Mason, Deputy Director, Texas Office of State-Federal Relations
Ali McGuigan, Manager of Government Relations, National Grid
Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development, Center for Sustainable Development, The Brookings Institution
Bill Shute, Executive Director, LBJ Washington Center
Jillian Smith, Legislative Assistant, Congressman Lloyd Doggett
Zoe Swarzenski, Project Manager, The Brookings Institution
Gretchen Tietje, Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Marcus Towns, Director of Member Services and Coalitions, Committee on Foreign Affairs at U.S. House of Representatives
David Weinberg, Staff Director, Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee
JoDee Winteroff, Senior Vice President, Policy and Political Affairs, The Human Rights Campaign
Taryn Woody, Professional Staff Member, United States House Armed Services Committee