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The Missouri House of Representatives honored Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Timothy E. Lewis, PhD, Department of Political Science assistant professor, with a resolution for 13 years of educational advocacy work, efforts to promote scholarly enlightenment and a never-ending pursuit to challenge the status quo. 

In a surprise presentation during a departmental virtual meeting on April 19, Rep. LaKeySha Bosley (D-St. Louis) read the resolution she authored and signed. 

“I was astonished and overwhelmed with emotion, when I realized I was being honored with a resolution from the Missouri Houses of Representatives for my service to higher education,” said Lewis. 

In part, the resolution reads: 

“Whereas, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives welcome with pleasure the opportunity to recognize a remarkable Missouri citizen whose efforts and accomplishments have made him a source of inspiration to all those around him; and Whereas, Dr. Timothy E Lewis, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, is to be commended for his service to higher education; and … Dr. Lewis can take pride in knowing he has consistently given more than one hundred percent to all those activities in which he has so generously and enthusiastically participated; 

“Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives, One Hundred First General Assembly, join in extending our most hearty appreciation to Dr. Timothy E. Lewis for his service to higher education and in further wishing him continued success in all future endeavors.” 

Lewis, who’s “calling” to higher education began in 2008, came to SIUE in August 2017. He was a former member of the American Political Science Association. Currently, he is a member of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists and the Northeastern Political Science Association. 

As an educator, Lewis has specialized in the politics of marginalized and disadvantaged groups and racial minorities, including LGBTQIA, women and gender minorities. “Education in America is taught and learned from the position of the privileged,” said Lewis. “But, if one teaches that same educational material from the perspective of an oppressed identity, not only will the content look different, but it is likely that one would see new information that cannot be seen because of privilege.” 

Specifically, some of Lewis’ educational work include:

• Since 2009, he has organized and advocated for racial equity for Blacks, including advocacy for resources allocation for people of color living with HIV/AIDS in East-Central Alabama. Lewis advocates to defend the legitimacy of Black Lives Matter as a social movement. He has conducted exit polling to gather and understand political opinions, specifically people’s perception of institutionalized racism. The data gathered was the basis of original research that Lewis published in the National Political Science Review. Most recently, he has focused on revitalizing the political activism of the Black Church.

• Lewis has been a supporter for non-heteronormative groups through educational advocacy and scholarship since 2014, including panels and academic discussions that look at “Black homophobia” and “internalized homophobia.” He has conducted original research that looks at homophobia and opposition to inclusive LGBTQI policy, which he presented at the 2015 Northeastern Political Science Association. “A more immediate example relevant to SIUE is that there was no course that discussed non-heteronormative politics at the University,” reported Lewis. “I developed the course as a special-topics one, termed ‘Gay & Lesbian Politics.’ The course has been added as a permanent one in the courses on political diversity and studies of non-heteronormative identities.” 

“I want to continue educational advocacy,” shared Lewis, “but going forward, I will begin working more with local community groups in grassroots advocacy efforts. I want to inspire others to see the need for and participate in, this sometimes overlooked, but greatly needed work.” 

Photo:
Timothy E. Lewis, PhD, assistant professor in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Political Science.