About the Annette Strauss InstituteAnnette Strauss InstituteASI_10247b1c-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af58Based in the nation's second most populous state at a premier public research university, the Annette Strauss Institute is aligned with the University's public role of designing and testing new ways of increasing civic involvement. It benefits from the collective expertise of scholars who are nationally renowned for their contributions to the study and development of civic participation and the conditions that give rise to or suppress engagement. Dedicated to applied research, the institute focuses on how new technologies of communication and innovative outreach can be used to increase political understanding and participation.University of Texas at AustinThe Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life is ... located on campus [at] The University of Texas at AustinMoody College of CommunicationAnnette Greenfield StraussFounded in 2000, the Institute is named after Annette Greenfield Strauss, an extraordinary woman whose accomplishments and commitments were legendary. Mrs. Strauss served on the Dallas City Council from 1983 through 1987 and then as mayor from 1987 to 1991. By the time she became mayor, Mrs. Strauss had spent some forty years as a city volunteer and community activist. As mayor of Dallas, Mrs. Strauss was said to be one of the few persons who had equal access to the City's diverse communities. When she died in December of 1998, an entire city mourned her passing.Dr. Regina G. LawrenceDirector -- Dr. Lawrence holds the Jesse H. Jones Centennial Chair in Communication in the School of Journalism at UT Austin. Her research focuses on the role of the media in public discourse about politics and policy. She has been chair of the Political Communication section of the American Political Science Association, book editor of the journal Political Communication, and a fellow at the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard. Dr. Lawrence's books include When the Press Fails: Political Power and the News Media from Iraq to Katrina (University of Chicago Press, 2007, (with W. Lance Bennett and Steven Livingston) and Hillary Clinton’s Run for the White House: Gender Politics and the Media on the Campaign Trail (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2009, co-authored with Melody Rose). She teaches courses in political communication, women and the news, and media, youth, and civic engagement. During the Fall 2014 semester, Dr. Lawrence will teach a journalism course entitled "Covering Politics."Dr. Roderick P. HartFounding Director -- Dr. Hart is the Dean of the Moody College of Communication and holds the Allan Shivers Centennial Chair in Communication and Government at The University of Texas at Austin. His area of special interest is politics and the mass media, about which he has written numerous books and articles. He has been named a Research Fellow by the International Communication Association, a Distinguished Scholar by the National Communication Association, and has received the Edelman Career Award from the American Political Science Association. He is also a member of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers at the University.Dr. Sharon E. JarvisAssociate Director, Research -- An Associate Professor for the Department of Communication Studies, Dr. Jarvis researches the intersection of language use, politics and persuasion and teaches a variety of courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels including political communication, campaign communication, and persuasion theory. She is the author of The Talk of the Party: Political Labels, Symbolic Capital & American Life (Rowman & Littlefield) and a co-author of Political Keywords: Using Language that Uses Us (Oxford University Press). Dr. Jarvis has been the Principal Investigator on a $100,000 grant to investigate the political participation of college students and working youth (CIRCLE, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts) and a co Principal-Investigator on two related projects focusing on the politics of youth (over $550,000 in funding from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts). She has been the recipient of numerous teaching awards and honors, including the Texas Exes Outstanding Professor for the Moody College of Communication, the Eyes of Texas Teaching Award, and the Outstanding Professor in the Moody College of Communication. In 2005, she was the second Assistant Professor in the history of the University to receive the Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship, the largest undergraduate teaching honor at U.T. Austin. During the Fall 2014 semester, Dr. Jarvis will teach three courses, "Political Communication," "Political Research," and "New Media for Young Voters."Chuck CourtneyAssociate Director, Administration -- Mr. Courtney brings over thirty-one years of government experience. He worked as the Administrative Assistant to former Texas House Speaker Gibson D. "Gib" Lewis. For twenty-three years, Mr. Courtney advocated for the retail industry in Texas. For six of those years, he was President/CEO of the Texas Retailers Association, a statewide non-profit trade organization. Mr. Courtney received his Master of Arts degree in History with a minor in Government from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is also a certified association executive (CAE), demonstrating his knowledge of non-profit and foundation management.Dr. Talia StroudAssistant Director, Research -- Dr. Stroud studies the media's role in shaping people's political attitudes and behaviors. Utilizing quantitative approaches, she is currently investigating people's political information seeking behavior and the effects of people's political media consumption patterns. Her first book, Niche News: The Politics of News Choice, was just published by Oxford University Press. Prior to joining the faculty, she was a member of the 2004 National Annenberg Election Survey team at the Annenberg Public Policy Center. She has published or forthcoming work in the International Journal of Public Opinion Research, American Behavioral Scientist, and the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media. Dr. Stroud has also conducted several evaluations for La Feria Para Aprender, a community education fair. Her analyses can be found here by year: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. As an assistant professor with the Department of Communication Studies, she teaches courses in public opinion, political communication, and research methods. For the 2014-15 academic year, Dr. Stroud will be at Princeton University as one of the visiting fellows with the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics. She will be directing the Engaging News Project and working on a book manuscript about engaging with diverse political perspectives.Deborah WiseDirector of Educational Outreach -- Deborah serves as the director of educational outreach at the Annette Strauss Institute. In 2004, she came to the Institute as a coordinator and producer of the American Trustees project, a collection of documentary vignettes and lesson plans about ordinary citizens doing extraordinary things. For the last five years, she has served as the director of educational outreach and manages Speak Up! Speak Out!, a high school service learning program, the production of the American Trustees and Turning Points film series, and undergraduate training and voter education efforts. Prior to joining the Institute, Deborah worked with the City of Houston and the County of San Diego conducting program evaluation. Deborah received a Masters of Public Affairs from the LBJ School at The University of Texas at Austin, where her research focused on charter schools and for-profit educational management organizations. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Arizona State University.Matt AbelProject Vote Smart, Senior Coordinator -- Matt is a legislative research associate with Project Vote Smart, a national nonprofit and nonpartisan political research and voter education organization. He is responsible for tracking major legislation in multiple states in addition to writing and revising comprehensive summaries of legislation. Matt previously worked in the Texas House of Representatives and for a healthcare consulting firm. Born and raised in Indianapolis, he received his bachelor's in Public Affairs from Indiana University in 2010.Emily R. EinsohnNew Politics Forum and Executive Communication Training, Program Director -- Ms. Einsohn has served as program coordinator for the New Politics Forum at the Institute since August 2010. Prior to working at the Institute, she has experience working as a campaign staffer on a Texas state-wide U.S. Senate race, in a State Legislator's Capitol office, and with a national interest group in Washington, D.C. Emily has received a Masters of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs and a Masters of Science in Social Work from the U.T. Austin's School of Social Work. Emily has recieved a portfolio certificate from the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service in Nonprofit Studies and is a trained civic reflection facilitator.Melissa HuebschBusiness Services -- Melissa is the full-time accountant and purchaser for the Annette Strauss Institute, and manages research grants. She has also provided administrative support, event planning and coordination expertise, as well as photography and design skills to the Institute since 2003. Melissa studied History and Vocal Performance at the University of Texas, but follows politics Beth Van RiperAdministrative Associate -- Beth has provided administrative support for The George Washington University and Northwestern University before joining the Annette Strauss Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Van Riper holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.Dilip KanugaProject Vote Smart, Legislative Research Manager -- Dilip is a legislative research associate with Project Vote Smart, a national nonprofit and nonpartisan political research and voter education organization. He is responsible for tracking major legislation in multiple states in addition to writing and revising comprehensive summaries of legislation. Dilip graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in Government & History in May 2013. He previously worked at the Texas House of Representatives, the Jamail Center for Legal Research at the UT Law Library, and as an undergraduate research fellow in the J.J. Pickle Research Apprenticeship Program.Ann E. StehlingNew Politics Forum, Program Assistant -- Ann Stehling joined the Annette Strauss Institute in May 2013 as the Program Assistant for the New Politics Forum. Ann is a sixth-generation Texas and enthusiast of all things Austin. A former Bill Archer Fellow, she interned full time in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee, where she assisted professional staff by conducting legislative research and compiling data on public assistance programs. During the 82nd legislative interim, Ann interned for Texas State Representative John Zerwas, M.D. Ann graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in December 2013, with a B.A. in Government. As an NPF alum, former UT Votes leader, and Project Vote Smart intern, Ann is excited to contribute to the Strauss Institute's mission of creating more voters and better citizens. As Program Assistant, she supports the work of the program coordinator with event planning, community outreach, social media management, strategic partnerships, and administrative tasks.Courtney ArnoldEducational Outreach, Program Assistant for Strategic Growth -- Courtney is a 2014-15 AmeriCorps VISTA member with the Annette Strauss Institute. She works as the Program Assistant for Strategic Growth for the Institute’s educational outreach programs. Courtney previously served two AmeriCorps terms as a City Year Corps Member in San Antonio, TX, tutoring and mentoring sixth and seventh grade students. She was also a Summer Ambassador with the Eastside Promise Neighborhood. Prior to her years of service, she was a 2011 UC Berkeley PPIA Law Fellow and interned with the Fighting Discrimination Program at Human Rights First. Courtney graduated from Furman University in 2012, receiving a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies.Taylor CalvinProject Vote Smart, Legislative Research Associate -- Taylor is a legislative research associate with Project Vote Smart, a national nonprofit and nonpartisan political research and voter education organization. She is responsible for tracking, analyzing, and summarizing major legislation in multiple states. Taylor previously worked for the State of Texas, as well as the public policy departments of The American Society for Association Executives in Washington, D.C and The Texas Society of Professional Engineers in Austin. A native Houstonian, Taylor received a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Business Foundations Certificate from The University of Texas at Austin in 2013. Esther MandelbaumProject Vote Smart, Legislative Research Associate -- Esther is a legislative research associate with Project Vote Smart, a national nonprofit and nonpartisan political research and voter education organization. She is responsible for tracking, analyzing, and summarizing major legislation in multiple states. Esther previously worked as an undergraduate intern for Project Vote Smart and as an assistant for the University of Texas Division of Housing and Food Services. She was part of the Jefferson Scholars Program and graduated with a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin in 2013.Annette Strauss Institute Advisory CouncilJay BrownCo-ChairEleanor WaddellCo-ChairArcilia AcostaJames AdamsJames AldreteHon. Ernest Angelo, Jr.Hon. Ben BarnesHon. Chris BellHon. Henry BonillaJay BrownKevin BurnetteChristy CarpenterSnapper CarrJo Anne ChristianAimee Boone CunninghamDenise DavisTed DelisiSuzanne EricksonAlan FeldShirley GreenJeremy HalbreichNancy HalbreichMark Harkrider Susan HaysRuss KeeneRusty KelleyHon. Cyndi KrierHon. James “Pete” LaneyGreg LevensonShana Harnisch LevensonDickson LouieDr. Molly Beth MalcomBob MannCappy McGarrFormer Co-ChairJanie McGarrLinda Lea MoorePasha MooreKevin MoomawMike MyersHon. Elliott NaishtatSam Perry Hannah Calvert PetersKaren ReaganHector RiveroJenifer SarverDr. Stefanie SanfordPaul SerffHon. Florence ShapiroRodney SchlosserGeorge Corless ShipleyBrian ShiversAllan Shivers, Jr.Former Co-ChairRobert SpellingsSue StraussEleanor WaddellHon. Ralph WayneAnnette Strauss Institute Honorary CouncilHONORARY COUNCIL MEMBERS -- We wish to thank those who have previously served as members of our advisory council. We are grateful for their time, friendship, and commitment to civic engagement.Elaine AgatherGilbert AranzaHon. George Bayoud, Jr.Angela CollinsHon. Tom DunningHill FeinbergJim FrancisHon. John HammackDr. Katherine HammerJan Hart-BlackHon. Karen Hughes Marsha JonesHon. Ron KirkTom LardnerLowell LebermannHon. Tom LoefflerTom LuceWales MaddenDr. Willis MaddreyJack MartinRob MosbacherErle NyeRena PedersonH. Ross Perot, Sr.Gerald RayProf. Elspeth RostowPete SchenkelRon SteinhartTheodore H. StraussDr. Charls WalkerJoe Bill WatkinsRob WileyHon. Anne Wynne... a democracy where all citizens are informed, vote, and are actively involved in improving their communities._10247ed2-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af58Dedicated to applied research, the institute focuses on how new technologies of communication and innovative outreach can be used to increase political understanding and participation._10248166-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af58Civic EngagementCivic EngagementThrough nonpartisan research, education, and outreach, the Institute seeks to understand and overcome obstacles to civic engagement._1024830a-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af58Programs_1024842c-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af581New Politics ForumEngage people in the political process._1024853a-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af581.1The New Politics Forum programs are strictly nonpartisan and work to engage people in the political process, teaching them about our nation's democratic heritage, and encouraging them to take leadership roles in their communities.Speak Up! Speak Out!Teach young people about their communities and help them discover the many ways they can make a difference._1024863e-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af581.2High School StudentsSpeak Up! Speak Out! is an innovative civic education program for high school students designed to teach young people about their communities and help them discover the many ways they can make a difference.American TrusteesHelp viewers to uncover how they can become trustees of their own communities._10248760-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af581.3The American Trustees Project is a collection of documentary films and standards-aligned lesson plans that allow viewers to discover how citizens can be influential in the civic arena, what motivates people to change the world, and most importantly, helps viewers to uncover how they can become trustees of their own communities.Tex ElectsInvite middle and high school students to compete for cash and prizes by producing campaign messages._10248878-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af581.4Middle School Students in TexasHigh School Students in TexasTex Elects is a statewide contest that invites middle and high school students to compete for cash and prizes by producing campaign messages that encourage their peers and their parents to participate in electoral politics.UT VotesInvite undergraduates to increase electoral participation and create more voters and better citizens._10248986-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af581.5University of Texas StudentsUT Votes is a student organization at the University of Texas at Austin that invites undergraduates campus wide to increase electoral participation and create more voters and better citizens. Each election cycle, UT Votes, in partnership with the Annette Strauss Institute, organizes and coordinates Get Out the Vote activities including registration booths, deputization sessions, and campus competitions.Executive Communication TrainingHelps professionals, driven by a passion to improve their community and country, to more effectively articulate their message._10248b5c-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af581.6Communication ProfessionalsExecutive Communication Training helps professionals, driven by a passion to improve their community and country, to more effectively articulate their message, rise above the noise, and be heard. This interactive workshop focuses on practical skills and is led by active communication professionals.Texas VotesIncrease electoral and civic participation through voter education, registration booths, deputization sessions, and campus competitions._10248c74-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af581.7Texas Votes is a statewide coalition of on-campus, nonpartisan student organizations committed to increasing electoral and civic participation through voter education, registration booths, deputization sessions, and campus competitions. Students and faculty partners form campus chapters, conduct a campus needs assessment, and create a plan to engage the disengaged students on their campuses.Turning PointsIllustrate major Constitutional questions and encourage class discussion and debate._10248d82-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af581.8Turning points is a video collection of dramatizations for high school students and teachers that illustrate major Constitutional questions and encourage class discussion and debate.Theodore H. Strauss Civic Internship AwardSupport young people seeking careers in public service._10248eb8-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af581.9Theodore H. Strauss Civic Internship Award supports young people seeking careers in public service by awarding stipends to undergraduates conducting internships in public service, government, or politics.ResearchImprove scholarly and public understanding of media, politics, and civic participation._10248fd0-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af582The Annette Strauss Institute seeks to improve scholarly and public understanding of media, politics, and civic participation. Our affiliated faculty conduct research on topics such as political language, consumer news choice, and media coverage of politics and policy. In addition, the Institute houses the Engaging News Project, Project Vote Smart, the Texas Civic Health Index, and the Campaign Mapping Project, and annually gives the Patricia Witherspoon Award to support graduate student research on public service, civic life, and citizenship.Engaging News ProjectProvide research-based techniques for engaging online audiences in commercially-viable and democratically-beneficial ways._102490e8-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af582.1The Engaging News Project has a single aim: to provide research-based techniques for engaging online audiences in commercially-viable and democratically-beneficial ways.Project Vote SmartGive college students experience researching bills and compiling legislators' voting records._102492aa-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af582.2College StudentsProject Vote Smart, Key Votes Internship Program gives college students experience researching bills and compiling legislators’ voting records while gaining knowledge of the U.S. political system. An independent 501(c)(3) organization, Project Vote Smart is a nonpartisan resource for citizens to acquire accurate information about politics, candidates, and key legislation.Texas Civic Health IndexReport on rates of political participation and civic involvement across Texas._10249430-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af582.3TexasA report on rates of political participation and civic involvement across Texas. Based on US Census data, this report provides the first comprehensive, nonpartisan assessment of our state's civic life.Campaign Mapping ProjectAssemble political campaign materials produced during presidential elections between 1948 and 2012._10249552-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af582.4Campaign Mapping Project is a multi-year effort to assemble political campaign materials produced during presidential elections between 1948 and 2012, as a guide to understand the direction of American politics.Patricia Witherspoon AwardOffset costs for students conducting original research in the areas of public service, government, community service, civic life, citizenship, or politics._10249692-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af582.5Patricia Witherspoon Research Award offsets costs for students conducting original research in the areas of public service, government, community service, civic life, citizenship, or politics.Online News EngagementStudy online news engagement._102497c8-5bfc-11e4-800a-74716de4af582.6Talia StroudThe New America FoundationCurrent Faculty Research Projects: Talia Stroud explores what makes people click on links with opposing views Dr. Natalie (Talia) Stroud received a grant funded by the a grant from The New America Foundation (supported by a grant from the Democracy Fund) to study online news engagement. The $100k project will be conducted during 2012-2013. The grant allows Stroud to build on her work in Niche News: The Politics of News Choice (Oxford University Press, 2011). The objective is to test ways in which news websites can engage site visitors and connect them with information about diverse perspectives. 2014-10-24http://moody.utexas.edu/strauss/about-instituteOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net