Joseph A. Pika told the
large gathering of colleagues, former students, public officials, friends and
family, who turned out on April 24 to celebrate his retirement from UD, that
his continuing love throughout his career has been education.
I discovered in 1970 that
I really enjoyed teaching, and Ive been teaching ever since, said Pika, the James R. Soles Professor of Political Science and International Relations and former
associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
The tributes that were offered at the celebrationin person and in writingalso applauded Pikas
lifetime of contributions to education at UD and throughout the state of
Delaware. But he was recognized as well for his achievements as a scholar, his
work in public service to the state, and his devotion to his family.
Among those at the event
were all three members of Delaware's congressional
delegation, U.S. Sens. Tom Carper '75M and Chris Coons and U.S. Rep. John
Carney '84M. Also attending were the state's chief justice, Leo Strine '85, and
the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for Delaware, Leonard Stark '91,
both former students of Pikas.
In his remarks, Coons cited Pikas influence on the lives of students and
communities, saying past, present and future students will benefit from his
character, intellect and grace.
Carper, who as Delawares governor in 1994 first appointed Pika to the
state Board of Education, thanked him for his dedication to public education.
CAS Dean George Watson read several letters of thanks and congratulations,
including one from Vice President Joseph Biden, a UD alumnus, who urged Pika to
remain engaged in public service. Watson also presented the colleges 2015
Lifetime Service Award to Pika, who spent 34 years as a faculty member.
Pika joined the University faculty in 1981 and was named the first James R. Soles Professor in 2008. The endowed position was created, through donations from
alumni and friends, to recognize a faculty member for a record of career
commitments to teaching, students and active citizenship and civic involvement,
as exemplified in Professor Soles own career. Professor Soles, who was Alumni
Distinguished Professor Emeritus, retired in 2002 and died in 2010.
At UD, Pika chaired the Department of Political
Science and International Relations from 1994-99 and from 2000-2002, received
UD's Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Advising awards and the College
of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Service Award. He served as faculty director
of the Delaware Social Studies Education Project from 1999-2001 and later as director
of Secondary Education Programs in CAS, director of the Center for Secondary
Teacher Education and director of Southern Delaware Professional Development.
On the state level, while on partial leave, Pika
served as executive director of the Governor's Commission on Government
Reorganization Effectiveness in 1993, as Carper began his first term as
governor. After his 1994 appointment to the state Board of Education, he served
as its president from 2001-05. In that position, he also was an ex officio
member of the UD Board of Trustees.
Pika's research focuses on American government,
with an emphasis on the presidency, political leadership, education policy and
Delaware politics. He is the co-author of Government
Matters: American Democracy in Context and the widely used and acclaimed
textbook, now in its eighth edition, The
Politics of the Presidency.
Pika received his bachelor's and master's degrees
from Johns Hopkins University and his doctorate from the University of
Wisconsin, Madison.
