School of Civic Leadership Welcomes First Cohort of Future Leaders

The University of Texas at Austin's School of Civic Leadership welcomed its inaugural class this fall, a significant milestone in the University's commitment to equip and train the next generation of civic leaders.

Students in the 103-person cohort are pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a major in civics honors, where they will study the intellectual inheritance of Western Civilization and the American constitutional tradition.

"The inaugural cohort of civics honors majors is exceptional," said Justin Dyer, dean of the School of Civic Leadership. "These pioneering students will spend four years studying the philosophical, economic and historical foundations of American freedom. By thinking deeply about our society's greatest achievements and challenges, SCL students will develop the skills and values that employers tell us they desperately need in a complex and dynamic marketplace."

Among the first cohort is Ella Dillinger, a Forty Acres Scholar and recipient of the Lowell Lebermann Scholarship.

Dillinger's path to civics honors began during her senior year of high school in Boerne, Texas, when she wrote a thesis on the dangers of polarized thinking in society and the need for more nuanced civil discourse.

"As I was reading through the program website, I noticed what was written there was almost the same as what I said in my thesis," Dillinger said. "It was really cool to see there was a major that encompassed all of my interests. It's a good mix of philosophy, government and economics, and I knew it would help me grow."

Dillinger, who is also pursuing a double major in Plan II, plans to attend law school and pursue humanitarian-based legal work.

Designed to prepare students for leadership through a variety of potential careers in legal professions, national security, public service, science and technology and more, the civics honors program emphasizes both academic rigor and practical application through a comprehensive curriculum that includes a capstone thesis, internship, foreign language sequence and electives.

This approach reflects the school's philosophy that civic education extends far beyond traditional classroom learning.

Reid Comstock, an assistant professor of instruction and the assistant director of student experience in the School of Civic Leadership, works to create meaningful experiences for students both inside and outside of the classroom that complement academic learning.

"The experience that a student has outside of the classroom is just as integral a part of the education itself," Comstock said. "We should be very intentional and deliberate about creating a specific kind of student experience that is aligned with and supplements the education that happens in the classroom."

When planning student experiences, Comstock draws from his research, which examines the connections between virtue, happiness and education in ancient philosophy. For example, Comstock is leading co-curricular reading groups that include a study of David Hume and an intensive examination of the Declaration of Independence.

"We want to be a place where it's not just about learning a particular body of knowledge but also about acquiring certain traits of intellect and character like charity, humility and treating other people with decency and respect even when we disagree," Comstock said. "Students will learn these traits by having them modeled through mentors and faculty who are excited and passionate about their subject matter and through being part of their cohort's community."

More than 2,700 students have been taught by School of Civic Leadership faculty members since the school began offering courses in August 2024, and nearly 900 students are taking courses offered by the school's faculty this semester.

Looking ahead, the UT System Board of Regents has announced a $100 million investment to renovate the Biological Laboratories building as the school's permanent home by 2028, enabling future expansion and helping it become the national leader in civics education.

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