Francis J. Leazes Jr.

Alumni Faculty Award:

Criteria: Need not be a graduate of the College but employed by the College. Wide recognition for exceptional competence in teaching, printed publication, initiative in research, development of a new program, community recognition of quality of service to the community or campus.

Fran Leazes is a serious scholar and highly effective teacher. He has published two books and numerous articles and monographs. For the 2007-08 academic year, Fran was named the Paul Maixner awardee for sustained excellence in teaching within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. As a political scientist, Fran's knowledge spans a number of fields - local and state government systems, the exercise of bureaucratic power, non-profit organizations, public sector budgeting, city politics and urban revitalization. He has made significant, innovative contributions to research and policy in all of these areas. Fran has been a guide to the members of countless committees and boards, both on and off campus. He has advised local governments, non-profits, study commissions, think tanks and budget task forces on best practices in rational problem solving and budget planning. As a multiple-term department chair in political science/geography at the College and as the director of the joint RIC/URI master's program in public administration, he has been a role model to younger faculty and countless students.