Alumnus Running For Houston City Council

Alumnus Philippe Nassif will be running for Houston City Council at Large Position 1. Nassif has thus far built a career focused upon advocacy and political activism, beginning with his time at UST.

“It began when I was running what we then called the Union of Politically Progressives.” Nassif said, explaining his years of activism at UST. “We focused on getting students politically active.” 

Nassif credits what he learned leading a campus club as building experience for working with a politically active non-profit. 

“My position there transitioned into working for Americans for Informed Democracy, which is a student run organization,” Nassif said. “They were looking for people to build chapters in Texas; a nonprofit, nonpartisan group whose purpose was to educate Americans on global issues, and why these issues matter to Americans.”

Nassif, who graduated with a Bachelors in International Studies, also found inspiration for global advocacy in his own family; his mother is from Mexico, and his father Christian Lebanese from Beirut.

“St. Thomas instills in all of its students the importance of public service and giving back,” Nassif said. “When you have an education that is so diverse, you ultimately leave with a better understanding of society, a person’s place in society, and what you can do to make an impact.”

Years of experience eventually lead to Nassif’s decision to pursue political activism as a career path.

“Growing up in a diverse atmosphere, I knew that I wanted to go into politics, and that I loved advocacy, and bringing people together,” Nassif said. “Convening different thoughts, ideologies, and religions: UST does that, and its not just through its education, but through the make-up of the student body, the diversity.

Nassif not originally did not plan on working directly with political parties. He intended to work abroad doing international development work, but during the years of attaining his Master’s, a new face came into the presidential race.

“While I was at St. Mary’s, I heard of then Senator Obama’s address in 2004 at the [Democratic] convention,” Nassif said. “When I heard that he was running, that he lived overseas, and that he had a different approach to foreign policy and intervention, and it segued with my worldview, and the job I had: educating Americans on global issues.”

Nassif worked his way up from the grass roots level by canvassing from door to door as a volunteer for the 2008 campaign while continuing to finish his Master’s degree. Building contracts through his volunteer work, Nassif was offered a job working in D.C. as part of President Obama’s Advance Team for a year and a half. He also worked in Mayor Parker’s Office of International Affairs through connections with a UST alumnus. 

“I got to see urban politics first hand, I studied urban geography at UST,” Nassif said. “While working at Mayor Parker’s office, I realized that it’s that it’s something I want to do down the road, how to run a city on a day to day basis, and how diverse the city was.”

Nassif currently works as the CARE Regional Director for the Midwest region. CARE is the world’s oldest poverty alleviation organization and works to make foreign aid accessible. With his work in domestic politics on the Obama campaign combined with his international aid advocacy, Nassif hopes that this will bring a diversified experience to serve the people of Houston. As far as this being the beginning of a future in politics, he is open to many possibilities.

“I don’t know what will happen after this, I am more focused on now, on this election, and being on city council for a full three terms,” Nassif said.

Nassif will not be the first UST alumnus elected to public office for the City of Houston. Ed Gonzalez, a current city councilman, is also a UST Alumnus. To gain experience for a career in service to the public, Nassif offered some advice. 

“I would say that I tried out a lot of different things to see what I really liked. I ran a campus club, I worked for a nonprofit, and learned about organizing and advocacy,” Nassif, said. “I attended a lot of workshops and conferences. I would say try things out: intern, volunteer, don’t be afraid to go work on a political campaign as a field organizer.”

Though running for public office was not originally a life purpose, Nassif says that the experiences he choose to have beginning at UST brought him to where he is now, and he advises other students to be open to those same possibilities. 

“You have to be adventurous when you’re young, make smart decisions of what you will be doing; try to be strategic and have a vision about your life,” he said.

UST students interested in becoming involved can visit www.nassifforhouston.com