Enlarge

We invite you to join us for the inaugural TEXAS TRIBUNE FESTIVAL, a full weekend of debate, discussion and dialogue, featuring some of the biggest names, and the biggest brains, in the world of politics and public policy.

Confirmed participants include former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza, U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards, energy magnate T. Boone Pickens, Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott, Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs, former Director of U.S. Census Bureau Steve H. Murdock and Texas Railroad Commissioner Barry T. Smitherman, along with more than a half-dozen chairs of major committees in the Texas House and Texas Senate.

A general admission pass gives you access to two full days of interactive events, lively panel conversations and absorbing lectures. Follow any one of four distinct programming areas, or mix and match — it's up to you. You'll be able to grab a bite from some of Austin's premier food truck vendors and will have unlimited opportunities to network with your fellow attendees.

Click below for the list of participants confirmed so far.

Date

Saturday, September 24, 2011 - Sunday, September 25, 2011

Time

9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Location

University of Texas at Austin
Various venues on campus, Austin, Texas 78705 (map)

• More details and event RSVP

Enlarge photo illustration by: Todd Wiseman

Former Comptroller John Sharp, a Democrat with a long history in state politics, was named chancellor of the Texas A&M University System on September 6, 2011. TAMUS is among the largest in the nation, with 11 universities, seven state agencies, a health science center an annual budget of $3.3 billion.

Date

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Time

7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. The conversation will begin promptly at 8 a.m.

Location

The Austin Club
110 E. Ninth Street, Austin, TX 78701 (map)

• More details and event RSVP

Enlarge

Bill Keller became executive editor of The New York Times in July 2003.  On June 2, Mr. Keller announced that he plans to step down from this position in September to write regularly for The Times as an Op-Ed columnist. 

Prior to his appointment as executive editor, Mr. Keller had been an Op-Ed columnist and senior writer for The New York Times Magazine as well as other areas of the newspaper since September 2001. Previously, he served as managing editor from 1997 until September 2001 after having been the newspaper’s foreign editor from June 1995 until 1997.  He was the chief of The Times bureau in Johannesburg from April 1992 until May 1995

Date

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Time

5:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Event begins at 6 p.m.

Location

Lyndon Baines Johnson Auditorium
2313 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78705 (map)

• More details and event RSVP

Enlarge

The Texas Tribune, with the UT Health Science Center, invites you to join us in Laredo for cocktails and conversation with Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., chancellor of The University of Texas System.

Dr. Cigarroa was appointed the tenth chancellor of The University of Texas System by the UT System Board of Regents on January 9, 2009.  As chancellor, he oversees one of the largest public systems of higher education in the nation, with nine universities and six health institutions, an annual operating budget of $11.5 billion including $2.5 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local, and private sources, and more than 194,000 students and 84,000 employees.

Please note that this event will take place in Laredo. A cocktail reception will be held from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., followed by an hour-long conversation and audience Q&A.

Date

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Time

5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. A cocktail reception will be held from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Location

UT Health Science Center Regional Campus
1937 E. Bustamante, Laredo, TX 78041 (map)

• More details and event RSVP

Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich

As the Comptroller of Public Accounts, Susan Combs serves as the state’s chief financial officer. During her tenure as comptroller, she led efforts to make her office more transparent to Texas citizens. She created Where the Money Goes, a website that allows taxpayers to see how each state entity spends its money. Combs also directed efforts to integrate data from different state agencies to make the exchange of information more efficient.

Date

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Time

7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. The conversation will begin promptly at 8 a.m.

Location

The Austin Club
110 E. Ninth Street, Austin, TX 78701 (map)

• More details and event RSVP

Enlarge photo by: Caleb Bryant Miller

Chancellor Brian McCall of the Texas State University System speaks with Tribune reporter Reeve Hamilton on Aug. 5, 2010.

Brian McCall, Ph.D., is chancellor of the Texas State University System, the oldest and third-largest university system in Texas, comprising eight institutions with more than 76,000 students and 15,000 faculty and staff.

Date

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Time

7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. The conversation will begin promptly at 8 a.m.

Location

The Austin Club
110 E. Ninth Street, Austin, TX 78701 (map)

• More details and event RSVP

Enlarge

The Texas Tribune, with the University of Texas at El Paso, invites you to join us for coffee and conversation with the city's first-terms state legislators. Please note that this event will take place in El Paso.

Rep. Naomi Gonzalez, an attorney, is the youngest woman and the only Hispanic woman of the 2011 freshman class. At the end of the 82nd Texas legislative session, Gonzalez, a Democrat, was named freshman of the year by the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and the Legislative Study Group.

Rep. Dee Margo serves as chairman and CEO of the John D. Williams Company. Dee, a Republican, helped found the Border Fund, a nonprofit foundation that provides charitable grants to local volunteer groups.

Sen. José Rodríguez, an attorney, formerly served as the county attorney of El Paso. In the Senate, Rodríguez, a Democrat, has worked to pass colonial legislation, establish the first environmental state court and develop historic county ethics legislation.

Coffee and pastries will be served from from 8 to 8:30 a.m., followed by an hour-long conversation and audience Q&A.

Date

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Time

8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Coffee and pastries from 8 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.; conversation from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Location

Tomas Rivera Conference Center, Union Building East, Room 308
500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968 (map)

• More details and event RSVP