TEXAS LYCEUM FELLOWSHIP

For Graduate Students Enrolled in Texas Public Administration Graduate Schools

The student(s) selected for The Texas Lyceum Fellowship will be expected to work with a supervising professor as they synthesize research in the most pressing policy areas affecting the State of Texas. Tasks assigned during the fellowship will include analyzing and interpreting statistical tests and trends from original data, culminating in the production of a high-quality written policy brief. Additionally, the student(s) selected for the fellowship will share their research at a Texas Lyceum meeting, a unique opportunity to represent their school and network with Texas Lyceum members and guests.

The Texas Lyceum Fellowship provides a $7,500 award to a selected graduate student to support a research project connected to a Lyceum conference. The faculty member supervising the project receives a $2,500 stipend.

Applicants must be enrolled in a public administration graduate program and be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

The Texas Lyceum is in partnership with The Bush School at Texas A&M as well as Texas Tech University.

Bush School at Texas A&M applicants, click here for the list of qualifications.

Texas Tech University applicants, click here for the list of qualifications.  

2026 Fellows

Henry Flowers

Henry J. Flowers Portillo is a Ph.D. student in Agricultural and Applied Economics at Texas Tech University. His research lies at the intersection of international trade, causal policy evaluation, and forecasting, with a focus on U.S. meat exports and policy shocks affecting global agricultural markets. His dissertation combines econometric and machine-learning methods to examine export recovery following food-safety crises and the economic impacts of public security reforms. Henry has presented his work at national conferences and has teaching experience in agribusiness marketing, statistics, and applied economics. 

Samuel Hopper

Samuel Hopper is a Master of Public Affairs candidate at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He holds a BA in Political Science and Economics from Trinity University. Samuel currently works as a Transportation Planner at The Goodman Corporation and contributes specialized transportation research for the City of Austin through his LBJ Policy Research Project. His professional and research experience spans rural land grant policy, foster care systems, economic development, and transportation planning. His work focuses on advancing efficient transportation systems that support economic growth, improve mobility, and strengthen communities across Texas. You can find Sam's presentation here

Devarier Smith

Devarier Smith is a Master of Public Affairs candidate at UT Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs and will graduate in May 2026. Originally from Kentucky, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from the University of Louisville. His work sits at the intersection of urban planning and public policy, with a focus on economic development and housing/homelessness. Devarier’s professional experience includes policy analysis in both the Texas and Kentucky legislatures, serving as an educator, and supporting regional community and economic development planning efforts in rural Kentucky. In 2026, he was selected as a Texas Lyceum Fellow. You can find Devarier's presentation here.

Emma Thomas

Emma Grace Thomas is a recent graduate from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. In May of 2026, Emma Grace received her Master’s in Public Service and Administration with concentrations in Nonprofit Management and Education Policy. Prior to her studies at the Bush School, she completed her undergraduate degree in International Studies and minored in Mandarin Chinese in December of 2023. Emma Grace is the 2026 TX Lyceum Fellow for the Bush School of Government and Public Service and the Mosbacher Institute at Texas A&M University. You can find Emma's presentation here.

Candace Wilson

Candace M. Wilson, a Florida native, graduated from Texas Southern University with an Executive Master of Public Administration. Her capstone research analyzed how legal and political networks shape leadership pipelines and institutional power between PWIs and HBCUs. Wilson’s background is rooted in advocacy; her grandfather was a plaintiff in Blalock v. School Board of Lee County, challenging school segregation in Fort Myers, Florida. Drawing from this legacy, she examines how systems allocate access, influence, and authority. Wilson is pursuing a master’s in Administrative Law, preparing to become an attorney focused on reforming prison system and mental health policy.