TOWER FELLOW JOURNEY
Back to School with Longhorn Parent John Burkhart
On any given afternoon at The University of Texas at Austin, students stream across Speedway, comparing lecture notes and caffeinating for exams. What’s unusual, however, is when one of those students is also the other’s parent.
Dallas resident John Burkhart recently joined a cohort of select individuals in the Tower Fellows Program. As UT’s premier nine-month, immersive "encore" education initiative, the program is designed specifically for professionals looking to pivot careers, explore new passions, or take what many call a “gap year for adults.” For John, the draw wasn't just satisfying a lifelong intellectual curiosity; it was the chance to reconnect with his daughter, Meredith, within the vibrant ecosystem of the UT campus.
Dallas resident John Burkhart recently joined a cohort of select individuals in the Tower Fellows Program. As UT’s premier nine-month, immersive "encore" education initiative, the program is designed specifically for professionals looking to pivot careers, explore new passions, or take what many call a “gap year for adults.” For John, the draw wasn't just satisfying a lifelong intellectual curiosity; it was the chance to reconnect with his daughter, Meredith, within the vibrant ecosystem of the UT campus.
“I missed the intellectual energy of a classroom,” John said. “There’s a part of you that wants to test yourself again–to see if you still ‘have it.’”
John and Meredith are both taking Dr. Leonard Moore's "The History of College Football" course each Monday night.
As a Tower Fellow, John has access to the vast resources of the university, from world-class research libraries to auditing 8-12 courses across the 40 Acres. Currently, he finds himself sitting side-by-side with Meredith, a sophomore at the McCombs School of Business, in Dr. Leonard Moore’s "History of College Football" course. The class, taught by one of UT’s Distinguished Teaching Professors, blends rigorous academic analysis with a subject both Burkharts love. The Tower Fellows Program is designed to facilitate exactly this kind of intergenerational exchange, creating a space where shared learning feels both natural and, occasionally, surprising.
The dynamic has produced moments of total role reversal. While John spent decades guiding his daughters through their education, he now finds himself leaning on Meredith to navigate the digital labyrinth of modern college life.
The dynamic has produced moments of total role reversal. While John spent decades guiding his daughters through their education, he now finds himself leaning on Meredith to navigate the digital labyrinth of modern college life.
“She literally walked me through registration,” he laughed. “I was just sitting there asking, ‘How does all of this work now?’”
The academic collaboration extends beyond the Austin city limits, too. In his “Wood Design” course, John consults his older daughter, an architecture student at Tulane University, for help with design software, a skill set he encouraged her to pursue years ago. “I’ll hand-draw a concept, get her on the phone to describe it, and she’ll model it digitally and send it back to me,” he said.
Longhorn Parents John and Megan Burkhart with daughter Meredith
But the benefits aren't strictly academic. For Meredith, having her father on campus means a built-in support system, whether it’s a quiet place to study or a guaranteed dinner date. “We grab lunch or dinner at least once a week,” John noted. “Being here at the same time is an experience I’ll never get again.”
Meredith admits the experience has been overwhelmingly positive, even with the occasional "dad" trade-off.
Meredith admits the experience has been overwhelmingly positive, even with the occasional "dad" trade-off.
“I love it,” she said. “There are times I agree to do something with him, and a fun opportunity with my friends comes up. But he and I are both understanding of each other’s situation.”
For John, the journey has been as much about self-discovery as it has been about family. “You wonder if you’re going to be worse at this now,” he reflected. “But it’s actually confidence-inspiring. You realize–yeah, I can still learn.”
Ultimately, the Burkharts have found something rarer than a degree: time. In a stage of life where parents and adult children often drift into separate orbits, the Tower Fellows Program has pulled them back into the same one.
Read John Burkhart's Tower Fellow bio.
For John, the journey has been as much about self-discovery as it has been about family. “You wonder if you’re going to be worse at this now,” he reflected. “But it’s actually confidence-inspiring. You realize–yeah, I can still learn.”
Ultimately, the Burkharts have found something rarer than a degree: time. In a stage of life where parents and adult children often drift into separate orbits, the Tower Fellows Program has pulled them back into the same one.
Read John Burkhart's Tower Fellow bio.
Are you ready to rediscover your intellectual curiosity?
The Tower Fellows Program offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the UT Austin community, audit world-class courses, and join a distinguished cohort of lifelong learners.
Learn more and apply for the next Tower Fellows cohort.
The Tower Fellows Program offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the UT Austin community, audit world-class courses, and join a distinguished cohort of lifelong learners.
Learn more and apply for the next Tower Fellows cohort.