Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters

Joseph August Pika III

Distinguished Scholar of American Government, you earned your bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Johns Hopkins University and your doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. You joined the University of Delaware faculty in 1981. In recognition of your commitment to teaching, students, and active citizenship and civic involvement, you were named the James R. Soles Professor of Political Science & International Relations in 2008. You are currently professor emeritus.

Your research focuses on American government, with an emphasis on the presidency, political leadership, education policy, and Delaware politics. You coauthored several books considered essential to the study of American government, including the widely used textbooks The Politics of the Presidency and American Democracy in Context.

You received both the Excellence in Teaching and the Excellence in Advising Awards from the University as well as the College of Arts and Sciences Lifetime Service Award. You chaired the Department of Political Science and International Relations and were an associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. You also were a member of the University’s Board of Trustees.

Champion of Public Education, you served on the State Board of Education, and as the board’s president from 2001 to 2005. In addition to being a member of numerous committees at the state level, you chaired the Delaware College Access Network Committee. At the University of Delaware, you were director of the Center for Secondary Teacher Education and served in directorial capacities in several other education-related programs.

Untiring Civic Leader, you have held numerous public service positions throughout the years and are currently president of the Sussex Preservation Coalition, which seeks to encourage sustainable, balanced growth in Sussex County, Delaware.

Not only did you teach about American democracy, but you also have demonstrated through your way of living that a democracy works best when its people are active and engaged. Therefore, under the authority of the Board of Trustees of the University of Delaware, I have the honor of conferring on you, Joseph August Pika III, the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. In testimony thereof, I am pleased to present to you this diploma.

Terri L. Kelly
May 23, 2026