Newswise — AUSTIN (May 16, 2019) – The University of Texas at Austin will honor it first Tower Fellows Program cohort at a graduation ceremony on May 16, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. in Robert B. Rowling Hall, 300 West MLK, Jr. Blvd., Austin. The inaugural Tower Fellows class consists of 13 distinguished individuals who have spent the 2018-19 school year exploring UT’s wide array of course offerings and taking the opportunity to prepare themselves for the next chapter of their lives.

This year’s Tower Fellows class includes business owners and founders, authors, publishers, presidential appointees, attorneys, Fortune 100 executives and more.

“The Tower Fellows Program offers an opportunity for people who have had successful careers to reconnect with the university within a diverse cohort of peers who share a passion for curiosity and life-long learning,” says Gaylen Paulson, associate dean and executive director of the Texas Executive Education at the McCombs School of Business.

The Tower Fellows Program provides unique access to the world-renowned expertise and resources of the university. Fellows have the opportunity to craft a personalized curriculum of courses and seminars, choosing from more than 12,000 courses on-campus, including programs with some of the most renowned professors in their field. In addition, fellows enjoy a distinguished speakers series along with twice-weekly gatherings with their cohort peers.

The 2018-19 Distinguished Speaker Series included former NASA astronaut Mary Ellen Weber, Basketball Hall of Famer Jody Conradt, former University of Texas at Austin Presidents Larry Faulkner and William Cunningham, former senator and NBA star Bill Bradley and Blanton Chair in History and Pulitzer Prize finalist H.W. Brands.

“The Tower Fellows Program is a tremendous way to get engaged in the university, especially in a transition period in life,” says Paul Kinscherff, Tower Fellow ’18-19. “The program offers a life-long learning opportunity filled with new ideas and perspectives along with amazing access to people and areas of the campus that are unique to the program.”

Each fellow comes into the program with unique and personal goals for the experience. Whether taking creative classes after a life in the corporate world, writing a book or filming a documentary, fellows are guided by faculty mentors to help them connect with university experts and resources to tailor their educational experience and reach their goals.

“The Tower Fellows Program was an amazing experience for me,” says Ellen Temple, TOWER Fellow ’18-19. “My goal was to enrich and energize my life, and this program was a perfect catalyst for me to do so. I am mentally energized, and I’m in production of a new documentary thanks to the Tower Fellows Program.”

Online applications are now being accepted for the 2019-2020 Tower Fellows Program Cohort at https://towerfellows.utexas.edu.

About the Tower Fellows Program

The Tower Fellows Program at The University of Texas at Austin provides individuals with highly accomplished backgrounds an opportunity to renew their passions at one of the nation’s leading research universities. Tower Fellows enjoy an intergenerational education and a life-changing experience with the opportunity to personalize their curriculum, choosing from among 12,000 courses and many renowned professors. In addition, fellows enjoy a weekly distinguished speakers series, and opportunities to engage and interact with their cohort community.

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