Past Events

Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO and founder of USAFacts, discussed the 2021 State of the Union in Numbers report, a digital resource to give Americans a data-driven overview of the nation across many different barometers.

The LBJ School's online conversation, "Women and the Future of Work," featured distinguished speakers sharing expertise on how COVID-19 exposed child care and workforce realities and their impact on women, and where we go from here.

Beto O'Rourke, former member of Congress and LBJ adjunct assistant professor, and Will Guzman, author of "Civil Rights in the Texas Borderlands," reflect on the life and legacy of physician Lawrence Nixon, a community and civil rights leader in El Paso. In 1923, Nixon challenged the law that banned Black Americans from voting in the Democratic primary. His victory in two subsequent Supreme Court decisions paved the way for dismantling all-white primaries across the South.

Despite America's most sacred ideal of egalitarianism, racial inequality has been a fact of American life throughout our history. Despite historic civil rights advancements, systemic inequity continues to be ingrained in our society—including in our own communities—holding us back from our promise. How can we all make a difference? "The Path to Racial Equity," a series of six free virtual programs beginning on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 5:30 p.m. CT, will draw on experts who will examine the issues surrounding racial inequity in Austin and offer simple, practical steps each of us can take to be part of the solution.

Dr. Varun Rai, LBJ School associate dean for research and director of the UT Austin Energy Institute, will moderate a conversation and panel with Mary Streett, bp senior vice president, and Dr. Joshua Busby and Dr. Aldo Flores-Quiroga, members of the LBJ School faculty. The discussion will highlight low-carbon efforts in the U.S. and abroad; the roles of private, nonprofit and public actors; and what's ahead for climate and energy policy in the Biden administration.

For decades, polls have shown that a majority of Americans want to replace the Electoral College with direct election of the president by popular vote. Yet since the election of 2000 the issue has become partisan, so that a constitutional amendment would be unlikely to get the necessary supermajority in Congress. The National Popular Vote campaign is an effort to make the Electoral College obsolete without a constitutional amendment, by getting a critical mass of states to agree to allocate their Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote.

The LBJ School, the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy (CSRD), the LBJ Foundation, BookPeople and Huston-Tillotson University present a special program to honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Peniel Joseph, LBJ School professor and CSRD director, discussed his critically acclaimed book, 'The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.' on Monday, Jan.18, 2021. Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, president and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University, moderated.

Over the Winter Break — Dec. 21, 2020 until Jan. 4, 2021 — the University and the LBJ School will be officially closed. If needed, please utilize the following contact information.

On Tuesday, Dec. 1, the Clements Center for National Security will host a discussion on "Prospects for civil-military relations during a Biden-Harris administration" with Gen. Vincent Brooks; Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the National Security Council; and Peter Feaver of Duke University and the Naitonal Security Council. Clements Center Senior Fellow Jim Golby will moderate this discussion.

On Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, the Strauss Center will host Dr. Barbara van Koppen, emeritus scientist on poverty, gender and water at the International Water Management Institute, for a virtual talk. This talk will explore IWMI and development within the context of Sub-Saharan Africa as well as Asia and Dr. Van Koppen will discuss how progress might differ across countries. This webinar is part of our Brumley Speaker Series.