Learning Doesn't Have to Stop After Graduation...
Each semester, The Patman Center will host a variety of public events and skill-building opportunities that welcome speakers, including former and active civic professionals, from both sides of the political aisles. Topics will vary but have included, "Giving Oral Testimony", "Crisis Leadership", "The 2024 Election Cycle" and "Talking to the Media". All events are free and open to the public.
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Fall Speaker Series
Renewing Democracy Speaker Series
Theme: Skills for Winning Campaigns and Elections
Tuesdays / Thursdays 12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Free and open to the public.
LBJ classroom SRH 3.124
Each week, we will bring in Democrats and Republicans to train, side-by-side, and share everything you need to know to run a successful campaign. These are not policy debates, but rather bipartisan trainings that focus on teaching civic skills around political engagement.
Whether you are a seasoned campaigner, an aspiring candidate, or just someone interested in learning more, these sessions will provide valuable insights into the art and science of winning elections.
LBJ Conversations with Evan Smith
Theme: Politics and Issues of the Moment
Mondays 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Free and open to the public.
LBJ classroom SRH 3.122
Join Professor of Practice Evan Smith for another round of exciting conversations! His speaker series, LBJ Conversations, will be apart of his class Politics and Issues of the Moment. Speakers will be elected officials who are once again on the ballot.
Former speakers have included:
Jane Bland, Texas Supreme Court Justice
Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative (D-San Antonio)
Sarah Eckhardt, State Representative (D-Austin)
Beto O'Rourke, Former U.S. Representative
Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, President of NextGen America
Joe Straus, Former Speaker of The House
Past Events
Skills for Civic Leadership
The principal objective of the course is 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. Speakers included active professionals and elected officials who spoke about their career journeys.
Politics and Issues of the Election Cycle
This course focused on the 2024 election cycle — both the primaries (the first half of the semester) and the general election (the second half). Each session was built around the central ideas of the moment in politics as well as the handful of issues atop of the campaign season's agenda. All speakers were elected officials running for office.