Jean-Pierre Lucas was born in Lima, Peru, but since a young age his family moved to Champaign, Illinois.

“Share your story because you just never know who might be going through what you’re going through.”

Hometown: Brandon, SD    

Current City: Rochester, MN

Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish. 

Graduate Institution and Major: University of South Dakota, Master of Public Administration (Leadership Theory emphasis). 

Hometown: Aurora, Illinois

Undergraduate Institution and Major: DeVry Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Science, Telecommunications Management

Graduate Institution and Major: University of Illinois at Springfield, Master of Arts, Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Development and Policy

Hometown:       Vienna, Illinois

Undergraduate Work:   Oakland City University, B.S. Human Resource Management

Graduate Work:  Oakland City University, M.S.  Management Science

Hometown: New Lenox, Illinois

Undergraduate Institution and Major: Illinois State University, Bachelor of Science (Criminal Justice Major)

Graduate Institution and Major: Illinois State University, Master of Science (Criminal Justice Major)

Sean McCandless, Ph.D., assistant professor of public administration at the University of Illinois Springfield, has been named University Scholar for 2021. The award, considered the university system’s highest faculty honor, recognizes outstanding teaching and scholarship. Only one faculty member receives the annual award at UIS.

Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand

Undergraduate Institution and Major: Thammasat University, Bachelor of Arts (Political Science)

Graduate institution and Major: University of Texas at San Antonio, Master of Public Administration

Bio: I have developed a deep interest in the Public Administration field since high school. With this sense of direction, I was able to earn my bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Administration from Thammasat University and the University of Texas at San Antonio

Hometown: Sheboygan, WI

Undergraduate Institution and Major: California State University LA, Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology

Graduate Institution and Major: Arizona State University, Master of Science in Global Development and Technology

Accountability for Social Equity

At the end of 2021, I am again reminded why public administration is so important. We are closing out the second year of a global pandemic. We see disparities throughout numerous dimensions of public service. Long standing policy and administrative issues are leading to new ones. Across all of these considerations, the important work of public administrators is evident, and it is precisely because of this importance that it is critical that public service agencies must be accountable for social equity.