MINNER SELECTS PIKA TO HEAD STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
--UD professor replaces Dr. Jim Spartz as president --
Dover – Governor Ruth Ann Minner has announced that Joseph A. Pika, Ph.D., will replace James L. Spartz, Ed.D., as president of the State Board of Education. Dr. Spartz served as Board President for almost four years, submitted his resignation several weeks ago to outgoing Governor Thomas R. Carper. In a search to replace Dr. Spartz, Governor Minner said that she did not have to look far to find his replacement.
“I have known Dr. Pika for many years, and have the utmost respect for him,” said Governor Minner. “He has truly served with distinction since being appointed to the State Board of Education in April 1997. He is well aware of all public education issues in Delaware, and I feel his leadership will help in our efforts to improve the quality of Delaware’s educational system.”
Dr. Pika received both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He then taught for three years at the Gilman School in Baltimore before earning his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In 1981, Dr. Pika joined the Political Science and International Relations department at the University of Delaware following three years as faculty at SUNY-Buffalo. In 1993, he was promoted to the rank of Professor. He currently serves as the Acting Chair of the Political Science and International Relations department at the University of Delaware.
At the University of Delaware, Dr. Pika has been deeply involved in departmental, college and university governance, serving on or chairing committees dealing with general education, undergraduate studies, interdisciplinary programs, and recruitment of minority students and faculty.
In 1993, Dr. Pika was asked to serve as Executive Director with the Governor Minner’s Commission on Reorganization and Effectiveness, a statewide effort focused on reinventing ways to conduct public business.
Dr. Pika is the co-author of two books, more than twenty articles published in professional journals and collections, a major government report, as well as numerous papers presented at professional meetings and conferences.
He now lives in Newark with his wife, Mary.
