Washington Center graduates LBJ DC Fellows class of 2019

Published:
December 16, 2019

The fourth cohort of students from the LBJ School of Public Affairs DC Concentration graduated on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the LBJ Washington Center. Dean Angela Evans and LBJ Washington Center Interim Director William Shute addressed the intimate ceremony for family and friends.

Lloyd Hand, senior counsel in the government advocacy practice at the law firm of King & Spalding, delivered the keynote speech. Hand, who provides counsel to U.S. Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments and institutional clients, began his career in government in 1957 as assistant to Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson. He became U.S. chief of protocol, bearing the rank of ambassador, when Johnson entered the White House.

Salimah Jasani (MPAff-DC '19) delivers the 2019 DC Fellow Address on Dec. 7
Salimah Jasani (MPAff-DC '19) delivers the 2019 DC Fellow Address

on Dec. 7. (Photo by Ralph Alswang)

 

Salimah Jasani was chosen to deliver the LBJ DC Fellow Address, amd talked at length about her classmates. "As I look around today, I’m filled with sincere gratitude for the field that we're going into, and also, with hope for the future — and I think that President Johnson would be too," she said. "My classmates are the essence of humility, sacrifice and dedication. They all have a vision for the world not only as it is today, but also for what it has the potential to be."

This latest class of graduates from the LBJ School heads out into a policy arena that will benefit from their training, experience and commitment, Shute commented. "For some time now there has been a growing anxiety about the future of our nation, perhaps rightfully so," he said. "If this group of LBJ graduates is any indication, the future of our democracy is in good hands."

LBJ Washington Center Interim Director Bill Shute laughs with Dean Angela Evans and Lloyd Hand at the LBJ DC Fellows' graduation on Dec. 7
LBJ Washington Center Interim Director Bill Shute shares a laugh with Dean

Angela Evans and Lloyd Hand at the LBJ DC Fellows' graduation

on Dec. 7. (Photo by Ralph Alswang)

 

In the DC Concentration, the LBJ DC Fellows completed an accelerated program of study and work that required them to spend two consecutive semesters studying in Austin before moving to Washington, DC for two additional consecutive semesters. During their DC sequence, they took classes while at the same time working for 32 hours per week in Policy Apprenticeships at leading public and private policy organizations around the nation's capital.

Congratulations, graduates! We wish you all the luck in the world.

 

 

The graduates:

Melissa Bellin

Master of Public Affairs

Policy Apprenticeship: Education Trust

Emily Clark

Master of Public Affairs

Policy Apprenticeship: Office of U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX)

Salimah Jasani

Master of Public Affairs

Policy Apprenticeship: Office of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

Megan Kruse

Master of Public Affairs

Policy Apprenticeship: The College Board

Abby Marcus

Master of Global Policy Studies

Policy Apprenticeship: World Learning

Timothy Michalak

Master of Public Affairs

Policy Apprenticeship: Partnership for Public Service

Emma Nye

Master of Public Affairs

Policy Apprenticeship: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Cara Pavlak

Master of Public Affairs

Policy Apprenticeship: American Immigration Lawyers Association

Sara Plasencia

Master of Public Affairs

Policy Apprenticeship: Education Trust

Christopher Purdy

Master of Public Affairs

Policy Apprenticeship: Human Rights First

Brittney Taylor

Master of Public Affairs

Policy Apprenticeship: Office of U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL)

Sean Walker

Master of Public Affairs

Policy Apprenticeship: Sandy Hook Promise