Jerome Lewis,
director of the Institute for Public Administration at the University of
Delaware, has been selected to receive the Elmer B. Staats Lifetime
Achievement Award for Distinguished Public Service from the American
Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
The award was established to honor a public administrator's career
accomplishments and contributions to public service and ASPA over a
lifetime. It will be presented to Lewis, who also is an associate
professor in UDs School of Public Policy and Administration, at the societys annual conference in Atlanta on March 20.
Honorees must have at least 20 years of professional public service,
have made outstanding contributions to an organization or organizations
on a sustained basis and have managed, created or facilitated
significant programs and/or projects within their areas of
responsibility to the ultimate benefit of the general public.
Lewis joined ASPA in 1964 and was involved in setting up the
organizations state chapter, the Delaware Association for Public
Administration.
He began his career at UD in 1969 as a faculty member in what was
then the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy and in the Department
of Political Science and International Relations. In 1975, he helped
establish and became director of the Universitys Master of Public
Administration (MPA) program.
In his time at UD, Lewis has seen the level of interest in public administration grow, he said, and as director of the Institute for Public Administration (IPA), he aims to take a broad view of the field.
We include transportation, city planning, education policy and
management, he said of IPAs many areas of focus. We include water
resources issues, conflict resolution and health.
Students from undergraduates majoring in public policy to graduate
students pursuing an MPA or a doctoral degree are involved with
projects that span the wide range of interests that the program offers,
Lewis said.
A notable alumnus of the program is Delaware Gov. John Carney, who
earned his MPA in 1987. Many other alumni currently serve in state
government or work in Washington, D.C.
In 1982, Lewis began the Legislative Fellows Program, which allows UD students to observe and assist legislators in Delaware.
Thats been a transformative opportunity for students, and it's
helped the University make some real, concrete contributions to the
legislative process for our small state, he said. Its a real
opportunity for our students that you wouldnt have in a bigger state.
Lewis has been the recipient of many awards in his time at the
University. In 2004, the Ratledge family presented him its Award for
Delaware Public Service, an honor given to individuals who exemplify
excellence in public service to Delaware citizens.
The state Senate and House of Representatives honored him in 2009 for
his dedication to public service, specifically his institution of the
Legislative Fellows Program. In 2011, he received the Public Service
Achievement Award from Common Cause, which honors individuals who by
force of imagination, initiative, and perseverance have made outstanding
contributions to the public interest in the areas of government
performance and integrity.
In reflecting on his career, Lewis noted, You dont do these things
alone. Ive had great colleagues, great staff people, great students,
that have made it successful. Whatever credit I have, I owe a lot to my
colleagues and students and staff members.
Originally published in UDaily on February 28, 2017. Article by Anne Grae Martin.
