DeLeon fosters future policy makers
Peter deLeon recognizes the importance of setting the stage for the future through public policy and awareness education. In his 20 years at the downtown Denver campus, deLeon, professor in the Graduate School of Public Affairs, has specialized in policy research issues ranging from voluntary environmental programs in western ski resorts to political corruption.
For his passion in developing current and future generations of policy makers, deLeon was chosen the Graduate School of Public Affairs Excellence in Research and Creative Activities recipient for 2006. “He is one of the most respected and prolific scholars in the field of public policy,” writes GSPA Dean Kathleen Beatty. “Peter deLeon’s contributions to public policy literature are extraordinary, from when he was editor of the journal Policy Sciences to more recent forays into democratic contributions to policy analysis.”
Perhaps most important, deLeon has been a mentor and advisor to the next generation of public policy makers. His students are quick to expound on the impact he has had on their professional lives.
DeLeon “served as an extraordinary mentor who intuitively seemed to know when to encourage and when to push, when to criticize constructively and when to inspire,” writes former student Regina Kilkenny, associate dean of the School of Medicine. “He has the uncanny ability to keep an eye on the details while looking in a global context.”
DeLeon is former director of the PhD program for GSPA. He is an advisor to the European Center for Social Welfare, the Swedish Colloquium for Advanced Study in the Social Sciences, and the Science Center in West Berlin.
An invited lecturer in the People’s Republic of China, Centro de Investigacion y Docenia Economicas and el Colego de Mexico in Mexico City, he has also presented in Singapore, Japan, Israel, Hong Kong, Italy and Australia.
On campus, deLeon has been active in university policy analysis programs to develop programs, create curricula and teach public policy courses. For the past five years, he has served on the university-level Retention, Promotion and Tenure Committee.
“[DeLeon] has a long standing reputation as someone who genuinely cares about improving the policy landscape through inspiring graduate students for this and future generations,” Kilkenny says.
“His commitment to mentoring a wide variety of students passionate about public affairs is immeasurable. That he accomplishes these feats and continues to strive to improve the fields of public policy is commendable; that he does it with skill, grace, a great sense of humor and a deep sense of commitment is exceptional.”