When Reta Jo Lewis (AB 鈥�75) stepped onto the 快猫短视频 campus in the 1970s, she was one of only 500 Black students. Her journey to UGA and 快猫短视频 was more than a personal milestone; it carried forward a powerful legacy of activism and leadership instilled by her parents鈥攔espected small business owners and civic leaders in Statesboro, Georgia鈥攚hose visions and values have left a lasting impact across generations.
鈥淢y parents believed that everybody mattered,鈥� Lewis recalls. 鈥淚t was not just about our family. It was about the whole community.鈥�
That belief鈥攖hat people matter鈥攈as guided Lewis throughout her extraordinary career. From her earliest work on Patricia Robert Harris鈥檚 campaign for Mayor of Washington, D.C., to her service as a Special Assistant to the President in the White House, Lewis has always understood that public service is not simply a profession; it is a calling.
This year, the School of Public and International Affairs honors Lewis with the inaugural 快猫短视频 Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her decades of leadership, diplomacy, and commitment to empowering others.
A Foundation Built on Service
Lewis credits her time at UGA and 快猫短视频 with laying the foundation for her life in public service. 鈥溈烀ǘ淌悠� was preparing me for a life of service before I even realized it,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t taught me how to lead with purpose, build coalitions, and think critically about the systems that shape our lives.鈥�
Her academic journey continued with a master鈥檚 degree in Criminal Justice Administration from American University followed by a J.D. from Emory University. Each step was intentional, each degree an additional tool to better serve her community and country. She also earned a coveted spot in the Presidential Management Fellows Program, which launched her federal career. 鈥淓ducation is empowerment,鈥� Lewis says. 鈥淚 wanted to make sure I had all the tools to sit at every table.鈥�
Leadership on the Global Stage
Lewis鈥檚 career spans three presidential administrations and includes pivotal roles in the White House, the State Department, U.S. Chambers of Commerce and most recently, as Chair, President and CEO of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM). In each position, she broke new ground, often in spaces where few women of color had gone before.
Her early work on political campaigns paved the way for one of her early roles: serving as Special Assistant to the President in the Office of Political Affairs. 鈥淚t gave me a front-row seat to how decisions at the highest-level shape people鈥檚 lives,鈥� she says. For her, the experience reinforced a core belief: representation matters. 鈥淪trengthening democracy means making sure diverse voices are at the table,鈥� she explains.
After years in law and policy roles, Lewis returned to public service as the first-ever Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. In that position, she pioneered a new approach to diplomacy by elevating subnational engagement鈥攂ringing governors, mayors, and other local leaders into global conversations. 鈥淭rade, climate, economic development鈥攖hese issues start at the local level,鈥� she explains. 鈥淲e expanded the definition of diplomacy to include everyday leadership.鈥�
Her work connected U.S. local leaders with international counterparts to tackle shared challenges, from infrastructure to economic opportunity. 鈥淚t was not about party politics,鈥� Lewis says. 鈥淚t was about finding solutions that transcend borders.鈥�
Lewis later was nominated as the 27th Chair, President, and CEO of EXIM, becoming the first African American person and only the second woman to lead the agency. Her leadership helped U.S. companies compete globally while advancing national priorities like supply chain resilience and energy transition. 鈥淓XIM was about economic empowerment,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was about helping American businesses succeed and creating opportunities that ripple through communities.鈥�
Even in the high-stakes world of international finance and policy, Lewis never wavered in her commitment to nurturing the next generation. At EXIM, she expanded the intern program from 10 participants to more than 80 students during her term, creating paid opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds and giving them a real foothold in global public service. 鈥淵ou can be making big decisions every day,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut what are you doing for the young professionals who are just starting out?鈥�
Her leadership is defined by mentorship and a belief in the potential of others. 鈥淲e have to take the time,鈥� she insists. 鈥淲e have to make the commitment to show others how valuable public service is.鈥� Through her guidance, she has shaped the careers of countless young leaders鈥攎any of whom continue to reach out, expressing gratitude for her listening, believing in them, and opening doors that might otherwise have remained closed.
A Mandela Moment
Among the many highlights of her career, one stands out: leading Nelson Mandela on his first U.S. tour after his release from prison. 鈥淲here else would you get that kind of experience?鈥� Lewis reflects. Traveling with him from city to city, witnessing his clarity of thought and unwavering perseverance, was life-changing. The experience deepened her belief in the power of connection and purpose-driven leadership. 鈥淚t was all about bridging transformational change,鈥� she says, a lesson that has guided her throughout her remarkable career.
A Legacy of Hope and Possibility
Receiving the inaugural 快猫短视频 Lifetime Achievement Award is a full-circle moment for Lewis. 鈥淚t is humbling,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t reminds me that the foundation you build at 18 can carry you through your entire career.鈥�
Her advice to today鈥檚 students: learn a language, travel, embrace a global perspective, and never stop learning. 鈥淧ublic service is the highest form of leadership,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t does not come easy. But it is worth it.鈥�
From Statesboro, Georgia to the global stage, Reta Jo Lewis has lived a life defined by purpose, powered by education, and anchored in service. Her legacy is not just in the positions she has held but in the lives she has touched and the doors she鈥檚 opened for those who will follow.
By Caroline Paris Paczkowski
