Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university located in Romeoville, Illinois, United States. The enrollment is currently around 6,800 students. Lewis offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, 22 graduate programs, and accelerated programs for working adults.
History
Lewis University was founded in 1932 by the Archdiocese of Chicago and Bishop Bernard J. Scheil as the Holy Name Technical School. The school gets its name from philanthropist Frank J. Lewis who funded the construction of many of the school's buildings. During these early days, aviation technology courses were chosen as the special emphasis of instruction, becoming the origin of today's highly regarded Department of Aviation and Transportation Studies. The school was incorporated in 1934 under the name Lewis Holy Name Technical School. In 1935, it became Lewis Holy Name School of Aeronautics, a name which is engraved in stone on the building now known as the Oremus Fine Arts Center.
During World War II, normal classes were suspended as the campus was given to the United States Navy to train pilots. The campus is adjacent to the Lewis University Airport. Regular classes resumed in late 1944 and the college soon adopted a more traditional arts and science curriculum. Women were admitted for the first time in 1949. Three years later the school's name was changed to the Lewis College of Science and Technology. The school's name was shortened to simply Lewis College in 1962 and finally received its current name of Lewis University in 1973.
In 2004 and 2005, Lewis enrolled more than 5,000 total students. Lewis’ strengths as an institution of higher learning have been evidenced through various sources. The University has been cited as one of the best colleges in the region for the last two consecutive years by both The Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report. The University is included in the top tier of U.S. News and World Report's rankings of the best Midwest master's-level universities, most recently placing 58 out of a total of 144 institutions. The Princeton Review named Lewis one of the "Best Midwestern Colleges," with Lewis being ranked among a select list of 23 Illinois colleges and 158 Midwest institutions.
In 2010, Lewis University offered more than 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, an accelerated degree completion option for working adults, various aviation programs, and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The ninth largest private, not-for-profit university in Illinois is being honored for the sixth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. The University also offers degree programs at two classroom sites in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
On February 8, 2016, the Lewis University Presidential Search Committee and Board of Trustees selected David J. Livingston, PhD, then president of Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio, to replace Brother James Gaffney, FSC as the 10th President of the university. Livingston succeeded Brother Gaffney, who retired June 30, 2016, after 28 years of leadership and service to Lewis University and its students.
Colleges and schools
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Education
- College of Nursing and Health Professions
- School for Professional and Continuing Education
Athletics
Lewis University is a NCAA Division II school that is part of the Great Lakes Valley Conference and the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.
The men's volleyball team won the 2003 NCAA Division I/II National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship by defeating Brigham Young University, but it later voluntarily gave back its title after an internal investigation found ineligibility issues that had been kept from the NCAA. This disgrace hurt the program for a few years, but they have slowly climbed their way back into the Top-10 rankings of DI-II schools. The Flyers were runners-up to Loyola University Chicago in the 2015 NCAA Final.
Lewis also competes intercollegiately in rugby as a member of the CARFU.
Lewis also has a nationally ranked cheerleading squad, which competes each year at NCA Collegiate Nationals in Daytona Beach.
Prior to joining the NCAA, Lewis was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), winning the NAIA Baseball World Series 1974â€"76 and finishing as runners-up in 1966 and 1980.
Notable alumni
- Jenny Bindon, goalkeeper for the New Zealand women's football team at the 2007 and 2011 Women's World Cup, the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London
- Kay Cannon, 2010 Emmy nominee for "Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series" (30 Rock), actress and improvisational
- John Caponera, television actor and comedian
- J. J. Furmaniak, professional MLB baseball player with the Tampa Bay Rays
- Rick Huisman, professional MLB baseball player with the Kansas City Royals
- James Laski, former Chicago City Clerk, controversial talk radio host, and author of My Fall From Grace â€" From City Hall to Prison Walls
- John Loprieno, television actor in One Life to Live, Search for Tomorrow, and As the World Turns
- Tim McCarthy, current chief of police of Orland Park, Illinois, and a former member of the United States Secret Service. During the 1981 Reagan assassination attempt, he turned into the line of fire, shielded Ronald Reagan, and was wounded from one of John Hinckley, Jr.'s bullets.
- Charles H. Ramsey, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department (2008â€"present); Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (1998 - 2006)
- George Schmidt, NFL Player for the 1952 Green Bay Packers and 1953 Chicago Cardinals
- Paul Stevens, college baseball coach at Northwestern
- Yvette Marie Stevens, stage name: "Chaka Khan"; performer and 8-time Grammy award-winning artist; 4-time American Music Award winning artist; BET Lifetime Achievement Award winner
- Ernie Young, baseball player with the Oakland A's and San Diego Padres
- Paul Modrowski, convict who is currently serving a life sentence for accountability murder without parole at Stateville Correctional Center.
Campus media
- The Lewis Flyer
- Lewis University Television Network
- WLRA (88.1 FM)
See also
- Fitzpatrick House (Lockport, Illinois)
References
External links
- Official website
- Official Alumni website
- Official athletics website
