Austin is our home and educational partner. Our connections and investment in Austin open doors to internships for students to build career skills and contribute to the local marketplace.
A recent post-graduation report shows that 89% of our undergraduates and 63% of graduate students engaged in experiential education — predominantly in Austin — during their time at St. Edward’s. Find out about our local partnerships and ways Hilltoppers are learning and giving back in our amazing city.
Austin: a Living Laboratory for Business Students
How do you harness energy that is otherwise wasted, like the energy created by your footsteps, and use it to power a sports arena? When Cheryl O’Connor MBA ’18 pitched her concept to Austin business leaders and entrepreneurs, they reinforced the idea behind her start up (Energy Everywhere). To test the venture’s viability, O’Connor and her team of three undergraduate students conducted research with pedestrians in downtown Austin to determine if renewable energy makes an impact on consumer choices.
St. Edward’s Is Embedded in Austin’s Business Growth
The Bill Munday School of Business continuously cultivates valuable partnerships with organizations in Austin. These partners serve as resources for both students and alumni and provide year-round programming and creative space for practical professional experiences. In addition, David Altounian, associate dean of the business school, is an Austin Chamber of Commerce Board Member and Chair of the Opportunity Austin 4.0 Capital Investments Committee. Learn about our partners.
Hilltoppers Track Austin’s Wildlife
Wild Basin Creative Research Center at St. Edward’s University is leading Austin Wildlife Watch, the city’s biodiversity monitoring initiative, by installing 26 motion-sensitive cameras in green spaces across the city. Students in the Environmental Science and Policy major and the Professional Science Master’s in Environmental Management and Sustainability program put the cameras in place each season and have helped identify the species photographed in more than 10,000 images. Discoveries will help make Austin more wildlife friendly.
Art Student Helps Manage Award-Winning Exhibits at Austin-Bergstrom Airport
As an art exhibit intern at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Brittany Fucik ’18 says her role is a perfect match for her interest in curating public art. The St. Edward’s art major helps install and care for exhibits, design posters for revolving displays and answer questions from airport travelers about the art. Behind the scenes, she has been able to meet artists and curators from other museums and participate in planning meetings about future public exhibits. See her on the job in this video.
Political Science Major Dives into Advocacy Work in Austin
Jovahana Avila ’19 set a goal for her freshman year: to land an internship at the Texas State Capitol. That summer, she joined the office of State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, as a legislative intern. She’s continued her real-world learning experiences in Austin through internships with the Environmental Protection Agency and the League of Women Voters of Texas, and by tutoring local students as a volunteer at Con Mi Hermana. Read more about Jovahana Avila's experiences.
Student’s Grant Writing Wins $20,000 for Austin Nonprofit
A Grant Writing course at St. Edward’s with instructor Beth Eakman prepared Writing and Rhetoric major Genevia Kanu ’19 to bring in $20,000 for Six Square, an Austin nonprofit. The organization works to preserve the cultural history of the six-square-mile “Negro district” created by Austin’s segregationist 1928 city plan. The grant Kanu won was awarded by A Glimmer of Hope, a local foundation, and will fund a summer program that matches emerging artists with experienced mentors.