UM-Flint's Lewis earns NASPA "Pillar of the Profession" award

Christopher Lewis, director of graduate programs at the University of Michigan-Flint, was recently named the recipient of the 2024 NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education "Pillar of the Profession" award.

The award honors student affairs professionals who:

• Have provided significant service to NASPA through regional and/or national leadership roles within the association.
• Have created a lasting impact on the institution(s)/organization(s) at which they have worked, leaving a legacy of extraordinary service recognized by a cross-section of institutional/organizational stakeholders.
• Have demonstrated sustained, lifetime professional distinction in student affairs and/or higher education.

NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession. Its work provides high-quality professional development, advocacy and research for 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries and eight U.S. territories.

The NASPA Foundation recognizes distinguished individuals who have served as leaders, teachers and scholars in student affairs and higher education each year. Each individual is nominated and supported for designation as a "Pillar of the Profession" by colleagues, students, friends or others who find them deserving of the honor.

For 2024, Lewis was among 18 recognized by NASPA at its national conference.

In addition to his role at UM-Flint, Lewis serves as the producer of NASPA's "SA Voices from the Field" podcast and is also the founder and co-chair of the Student Affairs Partnering with Academic Affairs knowledge community. He was part of the inaugural NASPA Serve Academy, has been a faculty member at the Mid-Level Managers Institute, served as chair of NASPA's Excellence Awards, was past public policy chair for the Community Colleges Division, and served as the past Region IV-E KC coordinator. He also served as editor of the NASPA-published book, "Student and Academic Affairs Collaboration: The Divine Comity."

Outside of NASPA, Lewis is president of the Rotary Club of Williamston, Michigan and treasurer of the Williamston Community Schools Board of Education. He has been honored with the Award of Merit from the Michigan Association of School Boards and the HERO Award as the year's top volunteer from Downtown Lansing Incorporated. He also co-founded an international organization called Fathering Together, which supports fathers in being engaged in their children's lives.