LBJ School of Public Affairs

LBJ School of Public Affairs is a public affairs graduate school located at The University of Texas at Austin, named after Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States. The school was established in 1970 with the help of Lady Bird Johnson and President Johnson himself, with the goal of creating a institution that would train students to be effective public servants, much like those who worked with Hubert Humphrey and Robert F. Kennedy. The school's mission is to develop leaders who can work with United States Congress, The White House, and other Federal agencies of the United States, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency. The school has a strong connection to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, which is also located on the University of Texas at Austin campus, and has hosted many notable speakers, including Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Madeleine Albright.

● History

The LBJ School of Public Affairs was founded in 1970, with Lyndon B. Johnson playing a significant role in its establishment, along with Dean Rusk, who served as the school's first dean, and John F. Kennedy, who had inspired many of the school's early students to pursue careers in public service. The school's early years were marked by a focus on Great Society programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and the War on Poverty, which were all initiatives of the Johnson Administration. The school has since grown to become one of the top public affairs graduate schools in the country, with a strong reputation for producing graduates who go on to work in Washington, D.C., including at the United States Department of State, the United States Department of Defense, and the National Security Agency. Many of the school's alumni have also gone on to work for non-governmental organizations, such as the American Red Cross and the International Rescue Committee, and have been involved in international efforts, such as the United Nations and the European Union. The school has also hosted many notable events, including the LBJ Presidential Library Distinguished Lecture Series, which has featured speakers such as Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Nelson Mandela.

● Academics

The LBJ School of Public Affairs offers a range of academic programs, including a Master of Public Affairs degree, a Master of Global Policy Studies degree, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy degree, all of which are designed to prepare students for careers in public service, including at the Federal Reserve System, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Social Security Administration. The school's curriculum is focused on public policy analysis, public management, and international relations, and includes courses on topics such as health policy, economic policy, and national security policy, all of which are taught by faculty members who have worked with organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the United States Agency for International Development. The school also offers a number of dual degree programs, including a J.D./M.P.Aff. degree with the University of Texas School of Law, and a M.B.A./M.P.Aff. degree with the McCombs School of Business, both of which are designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in law, business, and public policy, and have been recognized by organizations such as the American Bar Association and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

● Research

The LBJ School of Public Affairs is home to a number of research centers and institutes, including the LBJ School's Center for Health and Social Policy, the Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources, and the Clements Center for National Security, all of which are focused on conducting research on topics such as health care reform, education policy, and national security strategy, and have worked with organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Homeland Security. The school's faculty members are also involved in a range of research projects, including studies on climate change, economic inequality, and immigration policy, all of which are funded by organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences, the Ford Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The school's research has been recognized by organizations such as the American Political Science Association and the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, and has been published in top academic journals, including the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory and the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management.

● Notable Alumni and Faculty

The LBJ School of Public Affairs has a number of notable alumni, including Robert Gates, the former United States Secretary of Defense, Karen Hughes, the former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, and William H. Gray, the former United States Representative from Pennsylvania, all of whom have gone on to work in senior positions in Washington, D.C., including at the White House, the United States Department of State, and the United States Department of Defense. The school's faculty members have also included a number of notable scholars, including Larry Sabato, a renowned expert on American politics, and James Galbraith, a leading economist and son of John Kenneth Galbraith, both of whom have written for publications such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, and have been recognized by organizations such as the American Economic Association and the National Academy of Sciences.

● Campus and Facilities

The LBJ School of Public Affairs is located on the University of Texas at Austin campus, in the heart of Austin, Texas, and is situated near a number of other top-ranked schools, including the McCombs School of Business and the University of Texas School of Law, all of which are part of the University of Texas at Austin system. The school's facilities include the LBJ School Building, which features state-of-the-art classrooms, a computer lab, and a library, all of which are designed to support the school's academic programs and research centers, and have been recognized by organizations such as the American Institute of Architects and the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. The school is also located near a number of other notable institutions, including the Texas State Capitol, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, all of which are popular destinations for students and visitors to the University of Texas at Austin campus.