Excerpts from Letters Written by Urban Studies Alumni to Support the Nomination of Earl M
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS WRITTEN BY URBAN STUDIES ALUMNI TO SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF EARL M. LEWIS FOR PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR AWARD February 8, 1982 "As a graduate of Trinity University's Urban Studies Program and in my capacity as Assistant City Manager, I have studied under and worked cooperatively with Dr. Lewis for over eleven years. I feel uniquely able to comment upon his dedication, abilities, and impact based upon the scope of our relationship ranging from pro fessor/student to professor/practitioner. The progress of my career can be attributed in great measure to the impact of Dr. Lewis. His continued ex pert tutorship of qualified urban practitioners is evidenced by the City of San Antonio's ongoing enthusiastic cooperation with Trinity University in the intern ship element of the program. Moreover, it is corroborated by the infusion of Urban Studies graduates throughout the City's municiDal structure. We hire Dr. Lewis' graduates because they can ably serve the City of San Antonio—that must be an effective measure of his work.' I have also served with Dr. Lewis as a Board Member of the National Hispanic Field Service Program administered by the University of Colorado at Denver. Trinity University, through Dr. Lewis' partic ipation, is viewed as a leader among the public administration schools from through out the country which are members of this Consortium. Indeed, Dr. Lewis has been elected Vice Chairman of the Policy Board, verifying his respected position among the academicians and practitioners who comprise the Board membership." Alexander E. Briseno, Assistant City Manager, City of San Antonio, Texas February 10, 1982 "Dr. Lewis has transcended my concepts of what a professor is and, in that, has convinced me that he is what all professors should be to all their students. I first enrolled at Trinity University in 1972. Academically, Dr. Lewis' courses were of the highest quality. Dynamic presentations and razor-like inquiries kept me moving, thinking, and exploring. I am convinced that his decisions to question individuals within the group were carefully and deliberately based on the subject of inquiry and his reading of how the particular individual was developing in the class. It is not, however, even this quality of classroom excellence which compels me to this recommendation. Clearly, it was Dr. Lewis, the Mentor, who provided me with the greatest experience and reward. This mentoring role began in the class room but is still very active and very fruitful now, almost ten years later. Dr. Lewis has always been available to assist and advise me. In late 1972, he chal lenged me to continue at Trinity at a time when external pressures were such that I considered leaving the graduate school. In 1974, he was very supportive in my appointment as Executive Director of a private non-profit housing corporation. In 1977, he again challenged and brought news of opportunity which led to my appointment as an Assistant to the City Manager of San Antonio. It is very important to note that it was Dr. Lewis who was seeking out and always keeping his former stu dents in mind." J. Rolando Bono, Assistant City Manager, City of San Antonio, Texas February 5, 1982 "In the many years I've spent pursuing academic goals, rarely has a professor in fluenced me and impacted so greatly the course of my professional development as did Dr. Earl Lewis. As a teacher and scholar he possesses the ability to communi cate clearly and concisely both theory, principles and practice so as to facilitate the transition from the academic to the real world. Three years ago I was pleased to participate in an alumni reunion and even more pleased to know that Trinity graduates are well distributed nationally in key, administrative policy and decision making positions in both public and private sectors." Jose Carlos Pena, Ph.D.; Vice President, Planning, Allocations, and Public Policy; United Way of America, Alexandria, Virginia January 17, 1975 "It's 3:00 A.M. and the Evidence case I'm reading is less than dull. Don't think for a second I've forgotten you. I have spent many an hour thinking about you, your program and your faculty. My thoughts are happy. I was your student and I can never repay you for the education and many opportunities you gave me. ... I guess you wonder about all that money you spent to educate me and also wonder what kind of return I have given the poor. Well, I've enclosed a newspaper article about one of the things I've done. If you read it slowly you won't miss my name. I don't think your money has been wasted. And I know a lot of the migrants feel the same way. Now, I'm concentrating on learning a profession. My goal is two things, to be competent and sensitive ." Ernesto Flores, Law School, Notre Dame University February 10, 1982 "As you know, there are a number of elements of design that go into the art of good teaching. The final criteria rest in the presentation of oneself as a model. Dr. Lewis is a life-long student. He takes advantage of learning not only from the published and academic world, but from his own students. He shows the liberating effects of self-discovery. In the final analysis, that is the most a good teacher can do; that is, to show by example what results from teaching oneself. Those subjects in which Dr. Lewis directs learning are value-loaded. That enormously complicates this whole business. In my experience, he presented material objec tively and encouraged comments that covered the philosophical spectrum. In the end, I knew what he valued. He knew what values I held. Biases were exposed, examined, understood, and respected. The last of the elements of good teaching upon which I would comment involves the minority member of society as a model. I have served as the Assistant to the Mayor when we were the largest city in the United States to have a female Mayor. Now I serve as the Assistant to the Mayor while we are the largest United States city to have an Hispanic Mayor. ... We are so fortu nate to live in this society and nation which values opportunity for all its members. I intend to do whatever I can to keep avenues open. Dr. Lewis is an example of what benefits can accrue to all of us when avenues are open." Shirl Thomas, Administrative Assistant to the Mayor and Council, City of San Antonio, Texas February 9, 1982 "Teachers and scholars function within several subsystems: the profession, the institution, the student body, and the community. I have never seen any teacher integrate all of these subsystems to the degree of excellence that Dr. Lewis does." Maria I. Araujo, Recreation Resources Planner, Comprehensive Planning Branch, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin, Texas February 4, 1982 "I believe that the students who have graduated from the urban studies program have made Trinity University a respected institution in the urban studies 'discipline.1 This is a direct result of Dr. Lewis' guidance and teaching. He has inspired at least three students in my class alone to become lawyers: Ernesto Flores, Irma Herrera, and myself. One other student, Richard Sanchez, works with the City of Houston/Harris County metropolitan government. Another student, Miguel Berry, is working in Wisconsin with the migrant stream of people. Dr. Lewis' inspiration came not by suggestion, but by making us understand not only the problems that face American cities but also the solutions to these problems. For example, I am a criminal defense lawyer, and I understand urban crime and the administration of justice because Dr. Lewis taught the reality of urban crime, not because of any thing I learned in law school or in the courtroom. ... In the classroom, Dr. Lewis is one of the most brilliant men I have ever encountered. He is challenging, mysterious, philosophical, completely objective in expressing points of view or schools of thought, and never boring." Armando Cavada, Attorney at Law, South Texas Defender Project, Kingsville, Texas February 10, 1982 "I have had the distinct pleasure and privilege of knowing Dr. Lewis for 12 years. During this time, I have valued his friendship, sought his counsel, admired his dedication, and emulated his pursuit of excellence in public administration. Dr. Lewis has influenced my life in a most positive manner. As his student, he capti vated me with his lectures. I felt challenged and stimulated by his coursework assignments. I enjoyed the individual attention he afforded me. He enhanced my education manifold. His keen insight and sincere moral support helped to make possible an undergraduate program at Trinity that provided tutoring, counseling, cultural activities, book and transportation stipends, and a two-week orientation for entering freshmen minority students." Jose Jorge Anchondo, Research Associate, Texas Advisory Commission on Inter governmental Relations, Austin, Texas February 8, 1982 "Characteristic of his teaching approach was his organization and clarity in pre sentation. Like a chemist, he was able to categorize and break down the complex elements of political thought in order to facilitate the learning process. But tressing this approach was his ability to stay current with the latest scientific research in this field. But the keystone description which sets Dr. Lewis apart from many well versed professors was his concern for his students. He was able to motivate students in the pursuit of excellence; it was through this unyielding drive that many of his students were able to overcome diffidence and indifference. Dr. Lewis captured the unused talent to create urban professionals in the highest degree." Ricardo A.