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December Newsletter

Hobby Fellows Selected for 87^th Legislature

Congratulations to the 2021 Hobby Fellows. Ten outstanding students have been selected to intern during the upcoming Texas legislative session, beginning in January 2021. The University of Houston undergraduates will support a bipartisan group of members in the Texas House and Texas Senate as they contribute to important policy and constituent work. The Hobby Fellows program debuted at the 83rd Texas legislative session to represent the legacy of former Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby and the Hobby Family.

See more about the Hobby Fellows.

Hobby Hour: Get Ready for the Gavel

The 87th Texas Legislature begins in just a few weeks. State lawmakers expect it to be the toughest they have seen in years. Are you ready? Get a preview of priorities for the upcoming session at the next Hobby Hour, noon, Dec. 16 via Zoom with state senators Paul Bettencourt, chair of the Republican caucus, and Carol Alvarado, chair of the Democratic caucus. Thousands of bills will be on the table with only a handful destined for the Governor’s desk. Founding dean Senator Kirk Watson will moderate.

Mark your calendar for the first 2021 Hobby Hour, noon, Jan. 20. Sign up to receive the newsletter, or follow us on social media (#HobbySchoolUH) for upcoming details.
Did you miss the November Hobby Hour that offered post-election insights from a stellar panel ? Find the replay here:

Research

Voters Name Top Three Concerns in Latest Research Report

COVID-19, the economy, and healthcare were top of mind among Texas voters according to the fourth and final section of the Hobby School “Election 2020” survey series. The order of key issues revealed in the survey was split along partisan, ethnic, and racial lines, but there were some clear top themes. The report reinforces tough decisions facing Texas legislators when lawmakers convene in Austin on Jan. 12. The full report also examines how Texas constituents compare to the national focus on social justice issues.

Report
Press Release

Hobby Research on Hurricane Harvey Response Informs Civil Rights Concerns

Pablo Pinto, associate professor and director of the Hobby School’s Center for Public Policy is participating in an online panel on the state’s Hurricane Harvey recovery response and its impact on vulnerable populations, noon, Tuesday, Dec. 1. The Texas Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is hosting the fact-finding exercise on civil rights concerns to inform recommendations on legislation and administration of emergency resources. The public is encouraged to participate.

Register here

Program News

Gift Enriches Ethics in Public Policy

The Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership at the Hobby School has received a generous donation for the Richard Gelwick Endowed Lecture Series. Allen Gelwick, son of Rev. Dr. Richard Gelwick, has given $100,000 to further the purpose and reach of the important lecture series. The Gelwick gift will be matched by the Hobby School of Public Affairs for a total contribution of $200,000. Hobby School professor Daniel Engster is the center’s director. The gift was announced during the 2020 Lecture, “What Now? Politics and Tech in the Wake of the 2020 Election,” with Kara Swisher, New York Times contributing opinion writer and host of Sway, a podcast on “power.”

A Closer Look at Polls

Did record-setting early voting and voter participation make it easier or harder for strategists to forecast the election? Learn more about why polls and surveys took a hit in the last two presidential elections at a special webinar: “How Did Polls Go So Wrong (Again)? The Perils and Possibilities of Surveys in the Trump Era,” 3 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, co-hosted by the Hobby School’s Center for Public Policy (CPP) and the UH Department of Political Science.

Register

Panelists include Gail Buttorff, director of the Survey Research Institute, Hobby School; Scott Clifford, UH associate professor of Political Science; Jason Casellas, UH associate professor of Political Science; Andrew Gelman, professor of Statistics and Political Science, Columbia University; and Natalie Jackson, director of Research, Public Religion Research Institute, Washington, D.C. CPP Director Pablo Pinto will moderate.

Student and Alumni News

First Black Female Harris County Clerk Elected

Teneshia Hudspeth became the first African American woman elected Harris County Clerk in November 2020. She began her political career as a UH Center for Public Policy undergraduate on Capitol Hill working for Congressman Chet Edward as a Mickey Leland Congressional intern. Taneshia graduated from Texas Southern University. She also is an alumna of Leadership Houston and the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University. Thank you for all your support, and congratulations, Teneshia!

Faculty and Staff News

Research-Driven. People-Oriented.

Alan Witt is one of 132 UH faculty who are among the most cited professors and researchers in the world, according to the updated 2020 Science-Wide Author Databases of Standardized Citation Indicators by researchers from Stanford. Witt is a Hobby School professor with joint appointments in the Departments of Psychology and Management & Leadership (Bauer College of Business). He teaches Leadership and Professional Development, which introduces students to the policy process and public policy careers, with special emphasis on leadership, teamwork, and organizational dynamics.

Professor Liz Fletcher Helps Secure Grant for Harris County Firefighters and their Families

Harris County Emergency Service District #13/Cypress Creek Fire Department has received a grant of $244,081 via the Texas Victims of Crimes Act thanks to the teamwork of District Chief Jason Corthell and fellow firefighter Elizabeth Fletcher. Fletcher is an associate professor at the University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business and Hobby School of Public Affairs. Her research and expertise in work-related mental health among emergency response professionals helped to secure the First Responder Mental Health Program grant. It will provide funding for counseling services for responders and families, establishing a peer support team, and bringing counselors into the stations to experience on-the-job challenges firefighters face in the line of duty. Congratulations, Cypress Creek Fire Department!