Message from the Director
In finance, much attention is paid to how modest, early investments yield exponential returns over time. Investing in civic leadership works the same way.
Most of the students who participate in our programs are already engaged. We didn’t light that spark; they brought it with them when they walked through our doors.
But as I complete my third year in this role, I am beginning to appreciate how the investment we make in developing young leaders pays compound dividends, both for the students and for the State of Texas. By breathing just a little more wind into their sails as they launch their civic journeys, the Annette Strauss Institute invests not only in their success but in the success of our shared civic enterprise.
This Impact Report documents our work for the 2025-2026 academic year, but the true return on this investment will be measured in the decades ahead through the accomplishments of our students and the strength of our state.
Director, Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life
The Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life student-centered programs are built around the academic calendar, as is the University of Texas fiscal calendar, so we release our End-of-Year Impact report in September, upon the completion of our fiscal year.
RESEARCH
Election Reform Convening
In November, ASI collaborated with Better Choices for Democracy, a new democracy reform advocacy organization, to produce a panel discussion at the Texas Tribune Festival featuring former Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV), Nobel laureate economist Eric Maskin, the former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes, and ASI Director Mark Strama. Immediately following the TribFest panel, ASI hosted a convening of thirty of the nation’s leading election scholars and advocates to discuss reforms designed to de-polarize American politics and better reflect the full spectrum of public opinion.
Election Reform Research Grant
In May, our post-doctoral fellow Dr. Eugenia Quintanilla attended the 2026 Pathways to Primary Election Reform Conference in Los Angeles, as one of four finalists in a research award competition hosted by the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and Unite America Institute. Finalists presented their proposed projects with short “Shark Tank-style” elevator pitches before a cross-sector panel of judges, including philanthropic leaders, policy practitioners, and social science field experts. Judges evaluated projects based on their potential policy impact, societal importance, and novel contributions to academic scholarship. Similar to the TV show, each judge was independently able to fund, or not fund finalists. Dr. Quintanilla’s pitch proposed two studies investigating how voters psychologically infer the advantages or disadvantages of electoral reforms, with a particular focus on the role of partisanship and cues from elites. She received $21,000 in total, the largest amount awarded at the competition.
TX VOTES
TX Votes is a non-partisan student organization sponsored by ASI. TX Votes volunteer deputy registrars registered over 1,500 students to vote at 20+ campus events over the course of the year and produced a VoterPalooza concert event during Early Voting in the March primaries. Bi-weekly volunteer meetings included a Hot Questions and Hotter Wings panel with Rep. Erin Zwiener, City Councilmember Zo Qadri, and ASI Advisory Council member Professor Jen Sarver.
1 of 129 campuses nationally recognized with a top-tier 2026 civic engagement action plan.
TX Votes President selected to the 2026 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll (1 of 168 students nationwide).
TX Votes students selected to present at Campus Compact 26 (in Chicago).
1,500+
Voters Registered
300+
Plans to Vote
20+
Campus Events
TEXAS CIVIC AMBASSADORS
19 emerging undergraduate leaders from 8 institutions across the state were competitively selected for the 2025-2026 cohort of Texas Civic Ambassadors. They participated in a year of leadership training, networking, and civic entrepreneurship, culminating in a capstone civic project on each student’s home campus.
Now entering its 10th year, the TCA program has produced an alumni network that is already having an impact in state and local government in Texas. And we were so proud that former TCA Carson Domey was a recipient of the 2026 UT President’s Leadership Award, one of the highest honors the University grants for student leadership.
Special Thanks to our Sponsor:
PIZZA & POLITICS
Our Pizza & Politics forum hosted guests like Brad Johnson, reporter for The Texan news site, and featured a discussion of public opinion research heading into the midterms with pollsters Dr. Ross Hunt and Dr. Sergio Garcia-Reyes. This year we also took Pizza & Politics off-campus for the first time. In the fall, we hosted 70 students for a dinner and political discussion at Q2 Stadium, sponsored by Common Ground USA and Project Unity. In the spring, PBS Austin hosted Pizza & Politics in their studio for a screening and discussion of Ken Burns’ documentary The American Revolution.
September 3rd
Legislative Session Debrief with Brad Johnson, Senior Reporter and Managing Editor for The Texan
October 20th
Together We Dine in partnership with Common Ground USA and Project Unity
November 11th
Voter Vibes in 2026 with Dr. Sergio Garcia-Rios, Professor at LBJ School of Public Affairs, and Dr. Ross Hunt, Founder & Pollster at Hunt Research Inc.
March 2nd
Austin PBS Screening of "The American Revolution", a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt
Together We Dine
in partnership with Common Ground USA and Project Unity
CAREERS IN POLITICS
College students from across the state convened on the UT campus in April for Careers in Politics. They got professional headshots, polished their resumes, and networked with their politically oriented peers as well as with our guest speakers:
Rep. Dade Phelan
(R-Beaumont), former Speaker of the Texas House
Samantha Lopez-Resendez
Democratic Nominee, Tx HD-50
Seth Krasne
Campaign Manager, Talarico for Texas
Matt Brownfield
Republican Political Consultant and Strategist
Marc Rodriguez
Texas Lobby Partners
Chris Jones
Founder, Politemps
Parisa Fatehi-Weeks
Executive Director, Every Texan
Laura Laughead
Host, Austin InSight, PBS
SPEAK UP! SPEAK OUT!
Nearly 400 middle and high school students across the state competed in Speak Up Speak Out, working in teams to identify civic challenges in their communities, and pitch a panel of judges on their proposed solutions. The competition culminates in a State Civics Fair with 100 finalists from across the state visiting the UT campus and competing for the state championship before a panel of civic leaders.
Congratulations to our 2026 State Civics Fair Winners!
Middle School Division
1st Place
The Impact of Counselors on Mental Health
Young Women's Leadership Academy
2nd Place
Woodlawn Lake Cleanup
Advanced Learning Academy
3rd Place
Public Food Pantries Around Our Community
Young Women's Leadership Academy
High School Division
1st Place
Project Wild Wellness
Keystone High School
2nd Place
Second Chance - Student Lead Thrift
CAST Tech High School
3rd Place
RAFT Tutoring
St. Stephens High School
Thank you to our 2026 State Civics Fair Sponsors!
H-E-B
Starbucks
and Alex Cervantes-Perez
Chick-Fil-A
and Pearlyn Szeto
Whataburger
and Leilani Garza
Lucky Lab
and Courtney Hutton
El Dorado Cafe
and Amy Rose
Cabo Bob's
and Kenzie Galaz
LBJ Library
and Crystal Esparza
The University Co-Op
GREAT CONVERSATIONS
More than 300 guests, including 50 students, came together to celebrate Larry Temple with the Shirley Bird Perry Longhorn Citizenship Award. During dinner at the AT&T Conference Center, retiring members of Congress, Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Lubbock) and Representative Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth), discussed the leadership lessons they were taking with them after their distinguished careers in elected office.
Larry Temple
Recipient of the 2026 Shirley Bird Perry Longhorn Citizenship Award
presented by Kenneth Jastrow
Representative Marc Veasey
U.S. Representative
Texas 33rd Congresional District
Chairman Jodey Arrington
U.S. Representative
Texas 19th Congressional District
The Hon. Florence Shapiro & Linda Moore
Advisory Council Co-Chairs
Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life
2026 Conversation Leaders
2026 Sponsors
2026 PATRICIA WITHERSPOON RESEARCH AWARDEE
Bailey Inglish
Multi-year community interview study in rural Alaska
"I made a second post on the town FB group and my inbox blew up overnight...I have...12 hours of interview tape...Currently 11 (interviews) with one more scheduled as a phone interview...with the state rep for the north slope in the Alaska house of reps."
Current survey occupations include: teacher, tech support specialist, regional suicide prevention program director, public health educator, high school assistant principal, retired superior court judge for the region, nurse, and parole officer.
2026 THEODORE H. STRAUSS CIVIC INTERNSHIP AWARDEES
Rebekah Besserman - National Democratic Institute
"...I was deeply engaged in learning about local-level anti-corruption initiatives, the political and historical context of the country, and how democracy assistance organizations and NGOs function...meet with Afrim Gashi, the current President of the Assembly of North Macedonia...we got to discuss current issues being discussed in the assembly, our work during the internship, and historical ethnic tensions within the country."
Rebekah Besserman is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Plan II Honors and Government, with a minor in History and a Bridging Disciplines Certificate in Human Rights & Social Justice.
Rianna Davila - City of San Antonio Ambassador
"A big aspect of...City Administration that I took away was the key aspect that these departments look for when brainstorming their priorities and budget: feedback directly from constituents and partners to improve and enhance the resources they provide...Throughout my internship I was able to play a pivotal role in developing our newest Community Engagement campaigns."
Rianna Davila is a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in political communications and plans to double major in Public Affairs.
Hannah Douglas - International Republican Institute
"...I have developed a passion for legislative affairs in an internationally focused organization, research skills focused on countering authoritarian influences, and professional connections with foreign policy professionals across D.C...My favorite research projects that I assisted with over the summer were with our team: Countering Authoritarian Influences."
Hannah Douglas is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, pursuing degrees in Plan II Honors and Government with a security studies certificate.
Sydney Nwajei - Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
"...I gained a clearer understanding of how congressional offices operate and public service requires both visible leadership and consistent work behind the scenes...One of the most important lessons I gained was that...In government, impact may come from helping staff members access accurate information, ensuring that an assignment is completed on time, or supporting communication between an office and the people it represents."
Sydney Nwajei is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Political Communication with a minor in History.
Sofia Westmoreland - League of United Latin American Citizens
"...I contributed to the authorship of federal regulatory comment letters, a national gaming dashboard monitoring Latino hate-rhetoric, a set of civic advocacy guides distributed to LULAC councils nationwide, and advocacy writing on behalf of LULAC leadership...It was gratifying to know this work reached real councils, families, and veterans across the country, not just an abstract audience."
Sofia Westmoreland is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Political Communication and Plan II Honors.
