Fall 2025 - Registration now open!
Tuesday/ Thursdays 12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Instructor: Emily Bhandari, MPAff, MSSW
The principal objective for this course is to build civic skills around running campaigns and elections. Whether working for an elected official, government agency, or nonprofit organization, many civic leaders at one point in their career will be working on some sort of campaign. This course will help prepare the next generation for managing a successful one. Students will put their learning into action and work in teams to create a campaign plan for a mock candidate. Students will present their plans at the end of the semester to a bipartisan panel of campaign experts. Classes are taught by Democratic and Republican political professionals. Any UT-Austin graduate student is welcome.
Finding this course:
PA388L - Unique # 65595
Gov381L - Unique # 39735
SW 395K- Unique # 66555
Fall 2024 Speakers
James Aldrete (D)
President of MAP Political Communications
Mike Baselice (R)
President and CEO of Baselice and Associates
Brencia Berry (D)
Former Political Director at the Democratic National Committee
Darcy Caballero (D)
Government Relations and Political Director at Planned Parenthood and Texas Votes
Liz Chadderdon (D)
Former President and Creative Director at Chadderdon Lestingi Creative Strategies
Matthew Dowd (I)
Chief strategist for the Bush–Cheney 2004 presidential campaign and former ABC News political analyst
John Drogin (R)
Former campaign manager for Senator Ted Cruz
John Egan (R)
Partner and COO of Murphy Nasica
Manny Garcia (D)
Former Executive Director of The Texas Democratic Party
The Honorable Larry Gonzales (R)
Former Texas State Representative
The Honorable Sherri Greenberg (D)
Former Texas State Representative
Assistant Dean, LBJ School of Public Affairs
Elliott Griffin (R)
Former Chief of Staff in the Texas Capitol
Vincent Harris (R)
CEO of Harris Media
Laura Hernandez Holmes (D)
Former Campaign Manager for U.S. Representative Greg Casar
Rob Johnson (R)
Former campaign manager for Rick Perry for Governor and Dade Phelan for Re-Election
Periklis Karoutas (R)
Managing Partner at Legislative Solutions
Kevin Lindley (R)
Former Campaign Manager for Governor Rick Perry and Senator Creighton
Ryan Micik (D)
Political Research and Communications Consultant
Jennifer Naedler (R)
Campaign Fundraiser
Joey Parr (R)
Partner and Creative Director at Murphy Nasica & Associates
Scott Pollard (D)
Former Director of Advance for The Texas Democratic Party and Former Advance Associate for The White House under President Obama
Joe Pounder (R)
Founder of Bullpen Strategy Group
Sam Robles (D)
Former Campaign Manager for Roland Gutierrez for U.S. Senate
Derek Ryan (R)
Founder of Ryan Data and Research
Jenifer Sarver (R)
Communications Consultant
Lecturer at Moody College of Communication
Tariq Thowfeek (D)
Co-founder of Seeker Strategies
Mykle Tomlinson (D)
Campaign Manager
Founder of Y Strategy
Jaclyn Uresti (D)
Partner at Philips Uresti Meachum Partners
MaryEllen Veliz (D)
Political Operative at DS Political
Cliff Walker (D)
Co-founder of Seeker Strategies
John Wittman (R)
Partner at PLUS Communications
Nancy Zdunkewicz (D)
Pollster
Founder of Z to A Research