TOWER FELLOW -JAMIE BARSHOP

Airline Industry Professional Takes Flight on Wings
of New Ideas

Long interested in human causes, Barshop relishes opportunity to dive deeper into human behavior, psychology, and personal interactions
Jamie Barshop, TOWER Fellow 2019
The Journey
Jamie Barshop worked for Southwest Airlines for 39 years as a flight attendant and member of the airline's Critical Incident Stress Management Team. During that time, she was appointed to the Texas Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (now One Star Foundation) by Governor Ann Richards, and reappointed by Governor George W. Bush. She served as the Chair for the State of Texas AmeriCorps Programs and is currently a member of Leadership Texas, an organization providing programs that improve the personal, economic and professional status of women.

Currently, Jamie serves on the Advisory Board of the McCoy College of Business at Texas State University and is a Board Trustee of the Texas State University Development Foundation. She is a board member of both the Austin Smiles Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing craniofacial reconstruction, and the Animal Trustees of Austin (now Emancipet). She enjoys extensive adventure travel including helicopter skiing and medical mission-related trips.
The Experience

During her time as a Tower Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin, Jamie Barshop embarked on a remarkable journey filled with unexpected joys. The experience of attending classes with UT students was a pleasant surprise, as she found them to be not only exceptionally bright but also incredibly engaging, always willing to lend a helping hand.

However, the most significant revelation came from her interactions with fellow Tower Fellows. Through their shared experiences, they formed deep bonds that felt like the start of lifelong friendships. Their diverse backgrounds and careers added a layer of enriching knowledge to her journey.

Despite being a local Austin resident, Jamie was able to see her city through a fresh set of eyes, thanks to the unique perspective of her fellow Tower Fellows. Together, they explored new restaurants, engaged in exciting activities, and discovered fresh programs, making the entire experience all the more enjoyable and rewarding.

"Anyone who's looking for the next thing in their life
—looking for a challenge— that's who would fit the program."
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