The University of Texas Tower Fellows Program Offers “Next” for Successful Professionals
Second Tower Fellows Cohort begins a year of exploration, learning, friendships, and fun.
October 1, 2019
Newswise — AUSTIN, Texas — With the fall semester in full swing at the University of Texas at Austin, one group of students is embarking on a unique journey as part of the Tower Fellows program, which offers successful professionals the perfect setting to start something new. The program is designed for fellows to explore all the university has to offer. In addition to attending classes side-by-side with traditional students, they enjoy exclusive campus events in the heart of Austin.
“The rules of retirement are being rewritten every day with a new generation redefining them in their own terms,” said Sally Brinker, Director of Tower Fellows Program. “We have created a program where our fellows can write their journey around what is meaningful to them, all while having a whole lot of fun."
The 2019-20 Tower Fellows class features a diverse group of leaders with a global perspective, including CEOs, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, Fortune 200 executives, political appointees, attorneys, and more. These professionals have led multi-national teams in India, Dubai, and China, and banked millions of airline miles traveling to more than 70 countries. Whether the students hail from Chicago, New York, Texas, or farther afield, the program offers the fellows a year-long Austin residency with the freedom to explore their passions at the university.
“The Tower Fellows program offers people who have had successful careers a year to explore, learn, connect, relax, and play at our world-class university,” said Gaylen Paulson, associate dean and executive director of Texas Executive Education at the McCombs School of Business. “The program provides the fellows with an incredible opportunity to enjoy what the university has to offer while bringing the fellows’ wealth of expertise and experiences to our traditional students, which is what intergenerational learning is all about.”
Glenn Lowenstein, Tower Fellow '18, reflects on his experience, “I had been looking to take a sabbatical for some time and the Tower Fellows program was perfect for me. The program gave me time to stop, reignite my creativity, and broaden my horizons. The exclusive access to the University of Texas and the ability to take the journey with an interesting group of people really enriched the experience. I truly loved the excitement of being on campus. When I step on campus, my heart beats a little louder and faster.”
The Tower Fellows program provides access to world-renowned professors, distinguished speakers, a personal faculty mentor, exclusive campus outings, and connection with the Austin community. Fellows have the opportunity to craft a personalized curriculum of courses and seminars all while collaborating with peers.
The program includes a distinguished speaker series, which in 2019-20 includes conversations with former University of Texas at Austin Presidents Larry Faulkner and William Cunningham, former U.S. Senator and NBA star Bill Bradley, Blanton Chair in History and Pulitzer Prize finalist H.W. Brands, and Michael Grillo, producer of Avenger Endgame and Ant Man. In addition, fellows enjoy engaging discussions led by experts researching real-world challenges such as “Health vs. Care,” “Nonprofits, Neighborhood Revitalization, and Sustainable Communities,” and “What are Universities for, and Why Do They Work as They Do?” Throughout the year, the fellows enjoy one-of-a-kind campus outings such as the kick-off event that includes a tour of the University of Texas Tower and a private luncheon with President Gregory Fenves.
Online applications for early admission for the 2020-21 TOWER Fellows class open in October.
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 through the guidance of a personal faculty mentor while learning from renowned professors. In addition, fellows enjoy a distinguished speakers series, exclusive campus outings, and opportunities to engage and interact with their cohort community and alumni all in the beautifully unique surroundings of Austin, Texas, the Best Place to Live in the United States according to U.S. News & World Report.
For more information about the Tower Fellows Program click here.
For media inquiries, contact: Catenya McHenry, 512-471-5218, [email protected].
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