Dr. Richard Murray is a senior research fellow at the Hobby School of Public Affairs. A political scientist, Murray co-founded the Center for Public Policy, the precursor to the Hobby School of Public Affairs, in 1981, and served as the director of polling operations for nearly four decades. In addition to polling, Murray’s expertise includes election trends and practices, and partisan political change in Texas.

The Richard Murray Endowed Scholarship was established in 2008 for the purpose of honoring Professor Emeritus Dr. Richard Murray's service to the Houston community and over 50 years of teaching and research at the University of Houston. 

From left to right: Mrs. Elyse Lanier, former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier, Dr. Richard Murray, and Debbie Hartman-Murray

An Overview of Dr. Murray's Accomplishments

• Taught political science at UH since 1966
• Founded the Hobby Center for Public Policy (HCPP) in 1981 with a small group of UH faculty
• Established the HCPP’s polling operations in 1981
• Co-authored Pro-Growth Politics Change and Governance in Houston (1991)
• Served as director of the HCPP from 1996-2006
• Created the HCPP’s Houston Government Internship Program in 1996
• Launched the computer assisted survey system in the Survey Research Institute in 2000
• Awarded the Bob Lanier Chair in Urban Public Policy in 2004 

The Award 

The Richard Murray Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student who shares a passion for politics and policy, has a strong academic commitment and demonstrates a dedication to public service. Private funds were raised to endow this scholarship.   

Eligibility Criteria 

The scholarship recipient(s) will be determined by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs Scholarship Committee. Criteria includes the following:

• Scholarship prospect exhibits leadership qualities as determined by the Hobby School Scholarship Committee.
• Scholarship applicant should have a strong academic commitment and demonstrate dedication to public service.
• Scholarship applicant should demonstrate a passion for politics and policy.
• Scholarship applicant can be a certified full-time undergraduate or graduate certificate or degree-seeking student in good standing at the University of Houston.
• Scholarship recipient must maintain a GPA in accordance with the standards set by the Hobby School Scholarship Committee.
• Scholarship recipient may accept other scholarships and grants in conjunction with the Dr. Richard Murray Scholarship.
• Funds can be used to cover expenses for tuition, books, fees and/or supplies for the coming academic semester. Any expenses of a recipient in excess of the amount deposited must be borne by the student.

Application 

Applications are now being accepted for fall 2024. To apply, please complete the Richard Murray Scholarship application here.

The deadline to apply is Monday, September 23.

As part of the application process, you will need to include:

• Resume
• Personal Statement
• Two letters of recommendation from UH faculty members. A third letter of recommendation from a government office, campaign or non-profit organization will also be accepted
• An official transcript from the University of Houston
• Proof of financial need
• Career Goals statement
• The application is not complete without your signature

Congratulations to our fall 2024 Richard Murray Endowed Scholarship Recipients!

Vincent Fumey-Nassah is a junior majoring in public policy with a minor in linguistics and a certificate in Teaching English as an Additional Language. They are passionate about promoting civic engagement among university students and serve as a student leader with Texas Rising, where they focus on voter education and registration on campus. Fumey-Nassah also completed a summer fellowship with the Democratic Erosion Consortium, contributing to the expansion a database of a global incidents of democratic erosion. Additionally, they participate in the Horticulture Society at the University of Houston and serve as the Communication Chair for Freedom Collective, an organization dedicated to creating a supportive space for Black and Queer individuals at the university. Fumey-Nassah is involved in several Hobby School inititives such as the Civic Houston Internship Proram working with Emgage, a local nonprofit for political literacy and civic engagement, and is a member of the school’s registered student organization. In 2024, they represented UH at Texas’ largest policy and politics festival in Austin.

Anisah Khan is a senior at the majoring in English, with minors in psychology and the interdisciplinary program Law, Values, and Policy. She is currently interning at the Mayor’s Office of Education and Youth Engagement as a 2024 Civic Houston Intern, where she has contributed to the City of Houston Youth Mental Health Guide and collaborated with the City of Houston Youth Ambassadors. Her campus leadership roles include serving as managing editor of “Glass Mountain,” the university's undergraduate literary magazine and as a former Rowan intern at the Blaffer Art Museum. Her essay, "Narrating the Spectrum," was recognized as the 2023 Non-Fiction winner in the Alexandra L. Rowan Memorial Foundation Writing Competition. In addition to her creative pursuits, Khan, as a PURS scholar and FrameWorks Fellow, has researched the significance of partition literature for contemporary South Asian communities and continues her research in Special Education. Her passion lies in improving educational systems for disabled youth through civic engagement and public service.

Chinwe Nwaeze is a senior double majoring in philosophy and political science with a minor in public leadership. She currently interns at the UH Law Center Immigration Clinic where she is part of a student legal team representing clients in their asylum cases. Her passion for public service and justice informed her previous roles as a Hobby School Harris Fellow, an intern in Young Invincibles, a national non-profit, and as a Houston City Council District K intern deepening her understanding of community building and local government as a catalyst for political change. The Nigerian native possesses strong research and analytical skills with expertise in community engagement, advocacy and project management and her professional philosophy centered on advocacy, justice, and meaningful change. On campus she serves an associate justice on the UH Student Government Association’s Supreme Court, as a senior advisor in the UH Pre-law Society and on the executive board of RCCGF UH a Christian Fellowship on campus. She aspires to utilize her academic background and practical experiences to create impactful changes in the fields of public policy and law, contributing to global democracy and legal reform.

Milan Sam is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and a Master of Public Policy through the Hobby School’s dual degree program, with a minor in management and leadership. He participated in the Civic Houston Internship Program, working in the office of Harris County Justice of the Peace, Judge Dolores Lozano and has extended his 2024 Harris Fellow internship at the Research Analysis Division in the Harris County Office of County Administration. Sam is currently a member of the Houston Scholars program in the Honors College and a writer for the Arete Review, an undergraduate academic journal dedicated to addressing political polarization. He is also a participant in the 2024-2025 Next Generation Leadership Academy. His campus and community involvement includes UH Debate, Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees (PAIR), Model G20 and the UH Indian Student Association. He represents the Hobby School of Public Affairs as an undergraduate council member, serves as a resource officer for MOVE Texas and is the finance officer for One Small Step. Sam has received the Hobby Excellence and the UH Academic Excellence Scholarships. He aspires to become a policy analyst while continuing his commitment to community and civic engagement.

View Past Recipients