About Hannah Gourgey
Blueprint Director - E3 Alliance

Hannah Gourgey Ph.D., who manages regional systemic alignment around The Blueprint for Educational Change at E3 Alliance, has worked for over a decade in workforce development and education in Central Texas. Dr. Gourgey was formerly acting Executive Director of Skillpoint Alliance, overseeing all operations in Workforce Development and Youth College and Career Services for the organization. Dr. Gourgey has taught at the University of Louisville and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and The University of Texas at Austin and has several published articles addressing issues in communication and cultural studies and education. She is active the in community, volunteering for programs in tutoring, adult professional development, and youth civic participation. Dr. Gourgey holds BA from Northwestern University, MA from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and Ph.D. in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin.

Which of your personal traits is mot important to making you a good leader?
I am an active listener and firmly believe that people do their work well, when they feel empowered with their voice and supported in their skill development. So, although I expect high quality, completed tasks, I equally expect to see my colleagues personality come through in their projects rather than my own.
What are the key things you would counsel someone coming into the workforce?
Get the job done. Always, always find a way to learn. When you fail (and you will) take responsibility, the inevitable lessons, and a proud bow… because you had the confidence and the imagination to risk.
What is the most signficant issue you would like to be able to solve?
It would be easy to say that we have met the challenge of creating the strongest education pipeline in the nation right here in Central Texas, but I would be telling you only part of the story. The democratic fabric of our nation is unraveling by the myopic, self interest of partisan politics. I see the model of research, community dialogue and collaboration E3 Alliance has undertaken in trying to transform our education systems here in Central Texas as no less than a magnificent risk in revitalizing democratic practice and citizenry in an era in which the complexity of our political economy has reduced the power of the people to a few shrill voices. Aspirational absolutely, Inspirational … I can only hope.
What is the one thing that you would like to tell the Austin community about your organization?
When we talk about E3 Alliance, we often focus on what E3 means -- Education Equals Economics and that is unquestionably the our most prominent message -- our goal. But I am equally committed the second term in our name "alliance." We recognize the myriad of people and organizations who are the change agents as we strive to achieve the highest ideals of education for all our students. Systems change begins with people and people change because of the relationships they forge that empower them to think of something different, to see themselves in that new vision, and to change their behavior as a result.