Public Administration Faculty Member Honored With Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

Wesley Proctor, EdD, assistant teaching professor of Public Administration was recently honored with the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by the White House and the Biden Administration. The award recognizes individuals who have shown dedicated volunteer service and leadership to the public good. 

“This award represents my entire life and work in public service,” shares Dr. Proctor. “I love helping others! To be named for such a prestigious award is quite an honor, and I appreciate Marquis Coates and the entire anniversary committee of Victory Christian Center for even acknowledging my work and commitment to others and my community.” 

Dr. Proctor is the founder and CEO of Wesley Proctor Ministries, Inc. (WPM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Philadelphia students through academic and spiritual initiatives. Over the last 15 years, WPM has distributed over 300 book scholarships to college-bound high school seniors, raising more than $50,000 to help offset the cost of textbooks. The organization aims to address educational barriers and foster a culture of academic success.   

At Villanova, Dr. Proctor encourages students to prioritize service to others, stressing the importance of contributing to the community regardless of their career paths.

“One should always be willing to help and serve others, and in my opinion, this is what public service is all about,” says Dr. Proctor. 

Dr. Proctor’s impact extends beyond his formal roles and is a personal mentor to others. Fellow Villanovan Marquis Coates ’11 MPA, Success Program & Engagement Coordinator, Center for Access, Success and Achievement (CASA), and part-time MPA faculty, credits him with playing a critical role in his educational, professional and spiritual development over the last two decades.

“‘Doc,’ as myself and many other youth and young adults would affectionately call him, has shared his life, wisdom and blueprint with us on how to be successful academically and personally,” says Coates. 

"This exceptional honor is a well-deserved recognition of Dr. Proctor's lifelong dedication to public service, leadership, and contributions to the field of public administration," says Emory Woodard, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. "This award serves as a testament to his tireless efforts to inspire, educate and uplift others, and it reflects the profound influence he has had on the communities and students he has served."

Added Theo Arapis, PhD, Public Administration Department Chair, "Dr. Proctor is an extraordinary and kind human being, a role model for everyone to follow, and an inspiration to us both within and beyond the Villanova campus. He has profoundly impacted many lives and communities through his service and dedication to the common good."