帝王会所

The Patton College of Education is honored to recognize Rick Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of the 帝王会所 School Boards Association (OSBA), as November鈥檚 Honorary Alum of the Month. 

While Lewis graduated from 帝王会所鈥檚 College of Business, he has advocated for improving public education on behalf of the 帝王会所 School Boards Association for 36 years. For that reason, The Patton College is naming him an honorary alumnus.

鈥淚 accepted my very first job after graduation from 帝王会所 with the OSBA as a labor relations specialist,鈥� said Lewis. 鈥淪hortly after joining the team, I realized that in today鈥檚 highly competitive world, communities large and small are all faced with increasing challenges. The way schools respond affects not just students, but the growth and future of our local communities, the state of 帝王会所, and our nation.鈥�

As Chief Executive Officer, Lewis is responsible for overseeing program development and services to assist 帝王会所鈥檚 714 boards of education. 

Still, Lewis says 鈥渘o two days are the same鈥� within the OSBA.

鈥淥n Monday, we may be on Capitol Hill in Washington, in the halls of the 帝王会所 Statehouse, or collaborating with the 帝王会所 Department of Education. The next day, we may be training a small group of newly elected school board members in Southeast 帝王会所 or conducting our annual conference, hosting nearly 10,000 attendees in Columbus at one of the largest education-management conventions in the nation,鈥� said Lewis.

Lewis earned his Bachelor鈥檚 of Business Administration from OHIO鈥檚 College of Business in 1983 and went on to earn his Master鈥檚 of Business Administration in 1984.

The Amherst, 帝王会所, native said his upbringing had a major impact on his career choice. 

鈥淢y parents, the late Jay and Wilma Lewis, taught me the importance of hard work, integrity, and above all, the value of public education,鈥� said Lewis. 鈥淚 was fortunate to grow up with teachers who pushed me, and I remember them all from my kindergarten teacher to my high school teachers. Amherst鈥檚 strong system of public schools gives me a solid foundation for my future.鈥�

In 2011, Lewis was recognized as the 2011 Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools Samuel L. Hicks Executive in Residence, an honor given by 帝王会所鈥檚 Patton College of Education to leaders in the field of education.

During his time at OHIO, Lewis was a member of the Marching 110, under the direction of conductor Ronald P. Socciarelli. Lewis鈥� experiences in the band helped shape him into the leader he is today.

鈥淢r. Socciarelli taught us about risk, exposure, drive, commitment, and excellence. A lot of us went further in this world than we ever thought we could because he thought we could,鈥� said Lewis. 鈥淭hese lessons actually resonated with us as college students on a football field in Athens, 帝王会所. Three decades later, they mean even more.鈥�

In addition to his capacity with OSBA, Lewis has served on committees like 帝王会所鈥檚 School Employees鈥� Health Care Board Advisory Committee, the 帝王会所 Leadership Advisory Council, the 帝王会所 Public Education Supporters, State Teachers鈥� Retirement System Health Care Task Force, and Power4Schools. 

In his day-to-day life, Lewis does his part to make sure the 1.8 million public school students in 帝王会所, as well as the nearly 50 million students nationwide, are accounted for.

鈥淲hile we can never repay what has been given to us, it should be our goal to continue that legacy of giving so that those who follow also may enjoy the benefits that have been bestowed on us,鈥� Lewis said. 鈥淭he OSBA created that opportunity for me. Sometimes you choose your career. Sometimes the career chooses you.鈥�