2008 Keynote Speaker: Peggy Lewis ’77

Citation for Peggy Lewis ‘77

Trinity Women across the generations have long exemplified Trinity’s hallmarks of public service and civic engagement.   Peggy A. Lewis, Class of 1977, provides a remarkable example of such leadership.  An award-winning journalist who currently teaches at Howard University, Peggy started her career here in Washington with WTOP radio.   Later, as anchor for the ABC affiliate in Miami, she covered many stories about the plight of children, urban affairs, and issues in Haiti.  While in Miami, she also demonstrated great commitment to public service, taking on the responsibilities of president of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Miami.  In 1994, she was named the National Big Sister of the Year.  She was also president of the South Florida Association of Black Journalists (1991-1993).

When her Trinity classmate Maggie Williams became the chief of staff to First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in 1992, Peggy moved to Washington to join the White House staff, serving as assistant to the First Lady’s chief of staff.  Her talent soon led U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman to invite her to join the team at the Labor Department where Peggy served as deputy assistant secretary of labor.  After her work in the Clinton Administration, Peggy continued her public service as director of communications for the Children’s Defense Fund.   In all of these positions, Peggy demonstrated the kind of commitment to social justice and advocacy on behalf of those in need that are integral values in Trinity’s education.

Today, Peggy is fulfilling another outstanding leadership role as a member of the faculty of the School of Communication at Howard University.  At the same time, she is working on her doctorate in History; her research includes the impact of broadcasting on the Civil Rights movement.  In May 2007 she received a master’s in history from Howard University.  Her thesis was “The Anatomy of Slave Resistance.”

For her leadership in the public sector and commitment to social justice, Trinity is pleased to recognize the many accomplishments of Peggy Lewis, and to declare her a “Washington Woman of Genius” who inspires rising generations to follow her example.