KU Graduate Cited As One Of Eight U.S. 'Public Officials Of The Year'

Dec. 14, 2009: University of Kansas Press Release
Contact: Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8866

LAWRENCE — A University of Kansas public management graduate is one of eight state and local government officials named 2009 Public Officials of the Year, the fourth KU alumnus to receive the honor in the last decade.

Steve Hewitt, the city administrator of Greensburg who oversaw the speedy, environmentally friendly rebuilding of his city after a devastating tornado, was among this year’s honorees announced by Governing magazine. Hewitt is a 2009 graduate of KU’s Certified Public Management program.

“Fate threw Steve some unimaginably difficult challenges, and he responded heroically,” said Charles Jones, director of KU’s Public Management Center. “But I think Steve would be the first to insist that he is not unique among certified public management graduates. This group of public servants exemplifies resourcefulness, professionalism and dedication to the good of Kansas. The KU Public Management Center is honored to share the classroom with our students. Congratulations, Steve, on this well-deserved recognition.”

Previous KU honorees were
— 2002: Carol Marinovich, Kansas City, Kan., mayor and chief executive officer of the Wyandotte County Unified Government. Now an executive with Fleishman-Hillard in Kansas City, she earned her master’s degree from KU’s School of Education in 1981.
— 2001: Kathleen Sebelius, state insurance commissioner. Now U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services for President Obama, Sebelius received a master’s in public administration in 1980. She was governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009.
— 2000: Richard L. “Dick” Bond, Kansas senate president. Bond, who retired from the senate in 2001 and later served as chair of the Kansas Board of Regents, earned his political science degree from KU in 1957 and graduated from the School of Law in 1960.

Now in its 16th year, the annual awards program recognizes leaders from state, city and county government who have made a notable positive impact on their department/agency, community or state. The other 2009 honorees were Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley; Harris County, Texas, chief information officer Steve Jennings; Kentucky Auditor Crit Luallen; Youngstown, Ohio, Mayor Jay Williams; Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn; Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed; and Minnesota state Rep. Phyllis Kahn.

“This year’s public officials have thrived in the face of remarkable challenges,” said Governing Editor Alan Ehrenhalt. “Today, with every government grappling with the effects of a prolonged recession, their examples prove that strong, smart leadership is possible in the most difficult of circumstances.”

The public management certificate program is part of KU’s top-ranked public administration program and is dedicated to developing the management skills of mid-level leaders in state or local government and public-oriented organizations such as hospitals, nonprofits and utilities. The curriculum addresses personal and organizational integrity, managing work, leading people, developing self, systematic integration, public service and leadership during times of change.

Courses are offered through KU’s Topeka-based Public Management Center, locations in the Kansas City metropolitan area and in classes that rotate among sites in Hays, Liberal, Dodge City, Garden City to accommodate students in western Kansas. Nearly 1,200 students have graduated since its inception in 1993.

Ranked first in the nation in city management and urban policy programs by U.S. News and World Report, KU’s Department of Public Administration offers master’s and doctoral degrees in public administration plus an undergraduate major in public administration at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park.

Reprinted with permission. The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus. kunews@ku.edu | (785) 864-3256 | 1314 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045

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