Edward T. (Ted) Lewis Jr., Ph.D., the fourth president of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, died Thursday, Dec. 11, in Lewes, Delaware. He was 91.
Lewis led the college from 1982 to 1996, guiding it through a pivotal transformation that elevated its status among public liberal arts institutions nationwide. His presidency marked significant academic, financial and infrastructural advancements for the Southern Maryland campus in St. Mary’s City.
A key achievement under Lewis was securing the Maryland General Assembly’s designation of St. Mary’s College of Maryland as the state’s public honors college in 1992. This charter established the institution’s independence from the University of Maryland System, allowing greater autonomy in academic and fiscal decisions while recognizing its commitment to rigorous liberal arts education. At the time, it positioned St. Mary’s as one of only two such public honors colleges in the nation.
Lewis’s initiatives began early in his tenure. In 1983, he launched a curriculum revision focused on strengthening the liberal arts foundation. By 1985, the college implemented a new general studies curriculum to enhance student learning outcomes.
Faculty support saw substantial gains. Between 1983 and 1989, mean salaries for all faculty ranks rose 70 percent, shifting St. Mary’s from the bottom to the top among Maryland public colleges in faculty compensation. During a five-year span in this period, nine of the 75 full-time faculty members earned Fulbright Fellowships, with four awarded in 1984 alone. By the conclusion of his presidency, 97 percent of full-time faculty held terminal degrees in their disciplines.
Campus facilities expanded notably. The Townhouses on the Green and Schaefer Hall were constructed, the library underwent expansion, and St. Mary’s Hall received a full renovation.
These efforts contributed to improved academic standing. The college advanced from sixth to first place in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of regional liberal arts colleges between 1987 and 1989, reflecting enhanced reputation in admissions, faculty quality and student outcomes.
Lewis earned his Bachelor of Arts from Union College in New York, a Master of Arts from Boston University and a Ph.D. in English literature with a focus on Shakespeare studies from the University of Denver. He initially enrolled at North Carolina State University but left to serve two years in the United States Army during the Korean War.
A lifelong poet with more than 500 published works, Lewis held prior roles including associate dean at the Graduate School of Business and Public Administration at Cornell University. Following his time at St. Mary’s, he served as president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts from 2007 to 2009.
In 2015, then-President Tuajuanda C. Jordan presented Lewis with the Trailblazer Award, the second recipient of this honor recognizing major contributions to the college.
Campus tributes to Lewis endure. The Edward T. Lewis Quadrangle, a set of residence halls opened in 2001, bears his name. An oil painting of him hangs in Calvert Hall, the main administration building. The Edward T. Lewis Poetry Award honors outstanding student work in poetry.
Lewis is survived by his wife, Deborah DeLauro; sons Stephen Lewis (Patricia, nee O’Connell) and John Lewis (Nicole, nee Rohr); granddaughters Grace, Hazel and Penelope; stepson Jacob DeLauro (Jenna, nee Kamees); stepdaughter Jessica DeLauro; and nieces Lisa Larracuente and Hilary Teague (Jeff).
A memorial service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes, Delaware. Visitation begins at 10 a.m.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, founded in 1840 near the historic St. Mary’s City site of Maryland’s first colonial settlement, evolved from a women’s seminary to a coeducational public liberal arts college in 1966. Lewis’s leadership built on this foundation, emphasizing excellence in undergraduate education while maintaining affordability and access. His tenure aligned with the college’s mission to provide a challenging, student-centered experience in a scenic Chesapeake Bay location, drawing students from across Maryland and beyond.