Eugenia Toma Wins 2015 Lyons Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 20, 2015) — University of Kentucky Professor Eugenia Toma is the 2015 recipient of the William E. Lyons Award for outstanding service to the University of Kentucky, the community, and the Commonwealth. She will accept the award at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, in the Hilary J. Boone Center. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Each year, this award is presented to a UK professor who embodies the service oriented traits of former director of the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, the late William "Bill" Lyons. In addition to the award, Toma will receive $500 and a plaque.

"I knew and admired Bill Lyons so this award is a great honor," Toma said.

Toma currently serves as Wendell H. Ford Professor of Public Policy and director of graduate studies, Master's of Public Policy (MPP) and accelerated Master's of Public Administration (MPA) programs within the Martin School.

"Professor Toma epitomizes the ethic of engagement and service that Bill Lyons brought to the university and the community while building an excellent record as a scholar," said Edward Jennings, chair of the committee that selected Toma for this award. In addition to Jennings the selection committee comprises a faculty member from the Department of Political Science, one from the Martin School and the previous year's award recipient.

The Lyons Award carries forward the "…heritage of commitment to the trifold mission of the university: community, research, and education," said Merl Hackbart, interim director of the Martin School. "In all three of these areas Toma has had an exceptional record and is deserving of this award." 

A graduate of UK and Kentucky native, Toma concentrates her work on education and public policy within Kentucky. Toma has received research funding for various projects, many of which pertain to the Appalachian region.

Toma has been a part of the Martin School for almost 30 years, serving as director from 1995-2004, as well as director of the Ph.D. program. In addition to her work in the Martin School she also served on many campus committees, most notably two provost search committees, one in 2002 and the recently concluded 2015 search.

Within the profession of public policy Toma has made numerous contributions, serving as president of the Southern Economic Association from 2002-2003 and as president of Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration from 2004-2005. She has also served on boards for organizations including the Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management and the Association for Education Finance and Policy.

The James W. Martin School of Public Policy and Administration is an academic, research, and service unit of the University of Kentucky Graduate School. It was named in honor of Dr. James W. Martin, a scholar, public servant and teacher whose accomplishments have created a lasting legacy of scholarship and service.

MEDIA CONTACT: Clark Bellar, clark.bellar@uky.edu, 859-257-8716.