Hobby School of Public Affairs

08/26/2026

Big conversations. New opportunities. Real-world experiences. This fall, the Hobby School is bringing nationally recognized voices to campus, launching a new program for veterans and their families, and connecting students with hands-on learning that builds a foundation for an impactful career.

🎤 The New Yorker’s Andrew Marantz | Sept. 24
🗳️Civic Engagement Boot Camp | Oct. 2
💬 Houston Futures Festival | Oct. 3

Explore the latest Hobby Headlines newsletter 📰 at https://bit.ly/4wTpTEi.

08/25/2026

Get ready for the semester with your Student Starter Kit. 🧰 Explore a new speaker series on democracy, attend a community festival in the historic Third Ward featuring live performances and workshops on issues shaping Houston’s future, and connect with Hobby School alumni. Stay informed through Hobby Headlines ✉️ and the student resources page on our website. Sign up, show up and get started!

08/24/2026

Lock in early, Coogs. The Hobby School team can help you carve a path to success. Have questions about course registration, leadership development opportunities or internships? Make your way to the Student Services office in Suite 5 on the ground floor of the Bates Law Building.

08/24/2026

Welcome back to campus, Coogs! We’re excited for a semester of interdisciplinary coursework that will sharpen your technical and leadership skills while helping you build a community of peers who share your passion for making a difference. Here’s a look at some of our fall course offerings. 📚

08/21/2026

The Hobby School’s partnership with the UH Department of Economics tasked select students with conducting data analysis projects to help local nonprofits magnify their impact across Houston-area communities. This summer, 13 students working in four teams examined ways to improve life expectancy, public school enrollment, access to affordable housing and employee well-being.

Their findings will support technical research and evaluation efforts to refine resources and strengthen foundational programs. The teams presented their recommendations to faculty, agency leaders and Social Economy and Enterprise Academy alumni. Now in its sixth year, the academy provides students with hands-on opportunities to apply their analytical skills to real-world community challenges.

08/20/2026

The Hobby School community welcomed nearly 50 incoming graduate students at orientation. Students heard from Dean Jim Granato, Program Director Maggie Padilla and others about the school’s mission and resources. They also met with the new Hobby School Alumni Association leadership, explored experiential learning opportunities that will complement their classroom learning and got a preview of upcoming events. We’re excited to welcome Coogs to campus Monday and officially kick off the fall semester! 🐾

08/19/2026

With the new academic year 📚 just days away, new and returning Coogs should expect increased construction 🚧 impacts across campus. Review campus maps, follow detour signage and allow extra time to get where you’re going.

The construction of our new academic building has affected pedestrian pathways and building entrances at our current offices in the Bates Law Building.

🎥 Watch the video and visit our website for tips on finding us and navigating campus.

08/13/2026

Brooklyn Kennedy is one of two Harris Fellows who spent the summer interning with Harris County Office of County Administration, expanding their professional networks, conducting research and gaining firsthand experience in public service. Thank you to Harris County offices for hosting our interns!

08/12/2026

Former Richard Murray Endowed Scholarship recipient Alexis Boehmer is a UH alumna (’25) enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, where she is interested in criminal justice policy. She gained public service experience as a Civic Houston Intern at Houston City Hall, a Harris Fellow at the Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity, and a Hobby Fellow in the office of state Rep. Gene Wu.

The $1,500 scholarship award recognizes outstanding academic achievement and student leadership and honors Richard Murray’s decades of teaching and research at UH. Students from various disciplines can apply by Sept. 7 at https://bit.ly/40ktPhL.

08/11/2026

Why is adult education program enrollment in the U.S. declining? Hobby School Assistant Professor Blake Heller and co-author Kirsten Slungaard Mumma of Columbia University Teachers College explore program supply and student demand trends, finding evidence that changes in participant demographics may help explain the decline. Read their article, published in Educational Researcher.

In 2000, public adult education programs served nearly 2.7 million adult learners in the United States. By 2023, enrollment had fallen to under 1.3 million. We ...