Two honored for public service

Jerome Lewis (left), director of UD’s Institute for Public Administration, and Joy Sparks, state 4-H coordinator for Cooperative Extension at UD, display unique Delaware maps presented to them in recognition of the many miles they travel throughout the state.

8 p.m., Nov. 28, 2004--Joy Sparks, state 4-H coordinator for Cooperative Extension at UD, and Jerome Lewis, director of the Institute for Public Administration in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy (CHEP), received the first Ratledge Family Awards for Delaware Public Service on Thursday, Nov. 18.

The Ratledge family established the award to recognize the contributions of University of Delaware community members to the well-being of all Delawareans. The $1,000 award is intended to encourage and recognize significant public service by faculty, staff and students.

“It’s a real honor to be recognized with this award,” Sparks, who joined UD in 1973, said during the award ceremony at Trabant University Center. “I’ve loved what I’ve done every day, and I continue to enjoy coming to work. It’s been a wonderful experience getting to know so many wonderful people from Delaware.”

Sparks is the overall program coordinator for 4-H youth development at UD and Delaware State University. Her duties include developing curricula, organizing and promoting events at the Delaware State Fair and coordinating the Children, Youth and Families at Risk initiative.

Robin Morgan (left), dean of UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, with Ratledge award-winner Sparks

Sparks, who lives in Newark, was accompanied to the event by her husband, Donald, the S. Hallock du Pont Chair of Agriculture and Natural Resources and chairperson of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, her parents, Dan and Betty Gooden, her sister, Dana Sharpe, and two brothers, Richard and Alex Gooden.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to work here at the University of Delaware, to be able to teach, do research and work with the community,” Lewis said.

A Newark resident, Lewis joined UD’s faculty in 1969 and was a founding member of the Delaware chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, which he served as the first president from 1971-73. He established UD’s Institute for Public Administration in 1973 and has served as director since.

Lewis was joined at the ceremony by his wife, Linda, who holds two UD degrees, their sons, Russell and Raymond, both UD students, and daughter, Lizzie, a student at Tower Hill School in Wilmington.

Tim Barnekov (left), dean of UD’s College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy, with Ratledge award-winner Lewis

Jeffrey Raffel, director of the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, said UD faculty and staff who serve the public enjoy many rewards, including the satisfaction of affecting public policy and using professional expertise to help people and organizations achieve their goals and win recognition for their efforts. Raffel chairs the Ratledge Family Public Service Award Committee.

Ed Ratledge, director of the Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research at UD, said the award was a reflection of his father’s long civil service career and the family's long commitment to UD and the state of Delaware.

Article by Martin Mbugua
Photos by Greg Drew

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