MPA student Samantha Martinez was chosen to represent Texas State as a social media ambassador at the annual Texas Tribune Festival. Held in downtown Austin from September 26th-28th, the panels and talks explored a wide range of topics including public education, international relations, and various public policy issues. It also offered the students an opportunity to hear from several presidential candidates including Beto O’Rourke, Julian Castro, and Pete Buttigieg. The festival’s keynote address was delivered by the former CIA officer and current U.S. representative for Texas’s 23rd congressional district, Will Hurd. Speakers included the recently elected Mayor of Dallas, Eric Johnson; Mayor of Austin, Steve Adler; Comptroller Glenn Hegar; Secretary of State for California, Alex Padilla; former U.S. National Security Advisor, Susan Rice; former White House Communications Director, Jennifer Palmieri. The closing keynote was delivered by Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
Since she aspires to someday be a city manager, Martinez focused on events that she “felt could really benefit my knowledge in local government.” She explained that the festival really enabled her “to learn a substantial amount on current issues facing all levels of government.”
