61´«Ã½

With over 20 years of experience in open government, Sabine Romero ’95 has made a difference from the local to the international level and everywhere in between. And she is ready to bring that experience back to 61´«Ã½for her residency titled, Open Government: Ten Ways to Make a Difference in the World.

After graduating from 61´«Ã½with a degree in international relations, Romero led nonpartisan voter registration projects from Washington to Arizona through the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project. She also served in the office of City Council Member Robert Marbut and worked with Washington, D.C. fundraiser Joe Velasquez on international and national election campaigns.

In 2002, Romero graduated with a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. As legal counsel, her work followed an arc from voting rights and campaign finance to government ethics and accountability, including work for Federal Election Commissioner Scott Thomas, the Democratic National Committee, election firm Sandler, Reiff & Young, PC, and four Texas legislative sessions in both the Texas House and Senate.

Romero has served the city of Austin, Texas since 2008 and has worked as their lead elections attorney, their lead ethics and compliance attorney, and now as the chief administrative officer in their Office of Innovation. She is focused on tackling government opportunities and challenges with an emphasis on accountability, transparency, civic participation, and technology-informed governance. Romero values human-centered design and approaches her work to foster trust in the democratic process.

From February 22–25, Romero is back on-campus to speak with the 61´«Ã½community on a range of topics from ethical decision-making to civic participation. Join us for Romero’s residency! If you have questions, please contact Jess Butler, assistant director of alumnae engagement.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22

Making a Difference with Ethics  

Vita Nova 100, 12 pm – 1 pm
What constitutes doing the right thing? The law? Or the spirit of the law? What’s the difference between ethics and compliance? How do ethics and compliance nurture trust in government?

Making a Difference on the National and Local Stages

Humanities Auditorium, 3 pm – 4 pm
Featuring: Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County supervisor for the first district of L.A. County and the former secretary of labor under President Barack Obama
How does involvement at the federal and local, city level make an impact and balance government?

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23

Making a Difference through Business and Nonprofits

Humanities 204, 12 pm – 1 pm

Corporate philanthropy: How do corporations make a difference in our communities? What are the most valued skill sets for a philanthropy like Bloomberg? How do their efforts affect how we govern ourselves?

Making a Difference through Civic Participation
Screening of An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power

Humanities Auditorium, 7 pm
What constitutes effective public discourse and engagement? How does civic participation make a difference?

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24

ALUMNAE EVENT—Making a Difference on the International Stage: The Open Government Partnership (CANCELED)

Unfortunately, the event has been canceled. We hope you are able to join us on campus for other opportunities to engage with Sabine!

Making a Difference with Accountability: Two Guys on Your Head  

Motley, 6:00 pm
Featuring: Dr. Bob Dukes & Rebecca McInroy, Two Guys on Your Head Podcast
Sabine will be joined by two stars of the University of Texas at Austin psychology podcast, Two Guys on Your Head—Dr. Bob Duke and Rebecca McInroy. TGOYH explores different aspects of human behavior and the brain. On the podcast, hosted by producer Rebecca McInroy, UT psychologists Dr. Art Markman and Bob Duke cover everything from the effects of sugar on the brain to what’s happening in our minds while we sleep, and much, much more. As part of the LLAiR’s overarching theme—Open Government: Ten Ways to Make a Difference in the World—this event will focus on accountability and whether it is it personal, societal, or voluntary? How can you harness this value to make a difference in the world?

Interested in learning more? Check out our latest giving and impact news here.