University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs

University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs' Mission Statement: From a foundation of integrity, the Hobby School of Public Affairs prepares its graduates to make government, business and communities work more effectively by harnessing data and research to improve public policy.

Interdisciplinary expertise and community visibility constitute the foundation of the Hobby School of Public Affairs. The Hobby School of Public Affairs offers a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree as well as a joint MPP/MSW (Master of Social Work). The Hobby School’s research component is found within the Center for Public Policy, including programs and initiatives such as the Survey Research Institute, the Concept Visualization Lab, the EITM Summer Institute, and the Civitas Project. Public service and community engagement are also a vital component of the Hobby School as evidenced through Hobby Fellows, Leland Fellows, the Civic Houston Internship Program, the nationally-accredited Certified Public Manager program, the Civic Engagement Boot Camp, and various public events.

Led by executive director Dr. Jim Granato, the Hobby School of Public Affairs is supported by an advisory board of Houstonians prominent in business and civic affairs, and maintains cooperative relationships with many educational and public service entities in the Houston area and the state of Texas.

The Hobby School of Public Affairs is a Full Member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) and Institutional Member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management (APPAM). The Hobby School also maintains a Pi Alpha Alpha chapter, which is the global honors society for public affairs and administration.