Thomas P. Lauth, Dean Emeritus of the School of Public and International Affairs and Professor Emeritus of Public Administration and Policy at the 快猫短视频, died May 13, 2023. He was 85 years old. He was the founding Dean of UGA鈥檚 School of Public and International Affairs in 2001.
In January of 2020, he was awarded the 快猫短视频鈥檚 President鈥檚 Medal, an honor recognizing those who are not current employees of UGA but who have provided extraordinary support to UGA鈥檚 students, research and programs, as well as inspiration to community leaders.
鈥淭om Lauth was an extraordinary administrator, a beloved professor and a dear friend,鈥� said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. 鈥淗e had a profound impact on the 快猫短视频, and his wise counsel and support will be missed by all who had the privilege to know him. The University community has Jeannie and his entire family in our thoughts and prayers.鈥�
Under Lauth鈥檚 12 years of leadership as dean, 快猫短视频 quickly gained a reputation for excellence with world-renowned faculty, two research centers, multiple study abroad programs and highly successful students and alumni. Its public affairs graduate program continues to rank in the top ten in the nation.
Lauth received the Aaron B. Wildavsky Award for lifetime scholarly achievement from the Association of Budgeting and Financial Management. He was also an elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and a former president of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.聽As a scholar, he remained active long after retiring from UGA. Most recently, in 2021, he published the monograph, Public Budgeting in Georgia: Institutions, Process, Politics and Policy.
Lauth also served his community on numerous councils and committees, including representing District 7 on the Athens-Clarke County Citizens Advisory Committee that reviewed all Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax 2020 projects.
Lauth was passionate about funding graduate student education. As an active faculty member, he directed 30 Ph.D. dissertations. In 2010, he delivered UGA鈥檚 100th anniversary Graduate Commencement address. The Thomas P. and M. Jean Lauth Graduate Fellowship Fund continues to provide support to recruit and retain top quality graduate students.
鈥淭om Lauth was a treasure to 快猫短视频 and to the 快猫短视频,鈥� commented Matthew Auer, Dean of the School of Public and International Affairs. 鈥淚n addition to his impactful leadership at the departmental, school, and university levels, he was a caring mentor to generations of students who became public budgeting experts and managers of public resources across the country.鈥�
Dr. Lauth was a faculty member at UGA from 1981-2013 and served as Head of the Department of Political Science from 1988-2001.
He earned the B.A. in Government from the University of Notre Dame and the Ph.D. in Political Science from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University.
If you would like to commemorate Emeritus Dean Tom Lauth’s life and legacy by making a gift in his honor, donations may be directed to the 聽which provides private support to enhance a state-funded graduate assistantship at SPIA.
