Issue Areas:

Workforce
Postsecondary Education

Education:

Southwestern University – B.A. in Political Science and Spanish

Focus

Grace Atkins is a Policy Advisor for Workforce and Postsecondary Education at Texas 2036. She works with legislators, state agencies and partners across Texas to advance policies that connect students to credentials and careers that hold real value in the workforce.

Impact

At Texas 2036, Grace works to strengthen the connection between postsecondary education and workforce outcomes. Her work includes efforts to:

• Modernize community college finance: Help strengthen Texas’ outcomes-based community college finance system, which rewards colleges for helping students earn credentials of value, transfer successfully and complete meaningful dual credit coursework.
• Strengthen the value of postsecondary credentials: Contribute to efforts to ensure state higher education policy prioritizes credentials that provide a strong return for students, including strengthening how Texas measures the workforce value of credentials and connects them to family-sustaining wages.
• Better align education with workforce needs: Support efforts to strengthen the use of education and workforce data and better align postsecondary programs and credentials with the needs of employers and regional economies across Texas.
• Expand college and career opportunities for students: Help advance policies that strengthen college and career opportunities and give more students access to education and training that leads to valuable credentials and careers.

Past Experience

Before joining Texas 2036, Grace held several positions in Texas state government. Her most recent role was State Legislative Liaison for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

Prior to TxDOT, Grace worked for four legislative sessions in the Texas House of Representatives. She served as Chief of Staff for state Rep. John Turner, D-Dallas, and Deputy Chief of Staff for state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin. In these roles, she focused on policy development and legislative strategy, particularly in areas of state budget and public education.

Grace resides in Austin and loves exploring the city with her dog, Archie.