Posted on April 17, 2024 by Shaca Sweet
Conor Harvey, a 2015 graduate of UTSA’s public administration bachelor’s program, has been appointed by Governor Abbott to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). TCOLE, an agency comprised of nine commissioners and nearly one hundred employees, ensures Texas citizens are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement and corrections personnel. It sets policy, approves rules and procedures and takes formal disciplinary actions when needed.
Harvey discovered this opportunity on the governor’s website after contemplating ways in which he could serve Texas. He chose to serve on TCOLE because he thinks his skills will help ensure that Texas continues to be served by the best law-enforcement personnel in the country.
“I believe that the BPA program at UTSA helped equip me for this position, thanks to mentors and professors such as Dr. Jaramillo and Dr. Romero,” Harvey expressed. He highlighted the significance of personal connections at UTSA, his internship at Capitol Hill via the Bill Archer Fellowship Program, internship with the San Antonio City Council, and involvement in the Student Government Association as aiding in his development at UTSA.
Harvey chose to attend UTSA for his bachelor’s degree because he “wanted practical day-to-day, real-world curriculum rather than political theory.” At the time, UTSA was one of the few schools in Texas that offered public administration as a bachelor’s degree.
Harvey’s advice to students contemplating a career in government or law is straightforward: pursue something you are passionate about. He advises choosing a path that does not feel like work. While acknowledging that government roles may not always offer the highest pay, there is a sense of fulfillment in assisting others and helping your community. Harvey also shared that his greatest joy is his family, emphasizing that one should not delay starting a family just to pursue career goals. Although balancing work and family may be challenging, Harvey acknowledged, it is immensely rewarding.
Apart from his role at TCOLE, Harvey is an attorney at MURPHY BALL STRATTON LLP, where his practice focuses on business and white-collar litigation and appeals.
— Shaca Sweet
