Professor focuses life on philanthropy

Professor Leslie Lenkowsky has long been interested in helping others.\nThe 59-year-old professor of public affairs and philanthropic studies has spent nearly 40 years of his life using every experience he has had with that objective in mind. \nHe attended Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., in the '60s, a turbulent time in United States history, when people all over the country were looking to make a difference. \n"We were inspired by Kennedy," Lenkowsky said. "The speech in which he said, 'ask not what your country can do for you,' -- that spirit moved through the college."\nHe watched friends getting involved in the civil rights movement and going south to take part in protests and demonstrations.\n"But, as I looked around this small town in Pennsylvania, I saw poor blacks and poor whites and I thought we ought to be doing things in our own backyard," he said.\nIt was at Franklin and Marshall where Lenkowsky first began his long and successful career in philanthropy. As a college student, Lenkowsky started up a Big Brothers-Big Sisters chapter and a tutoring service.\nPhilanthropy is important to him because, as he says, "It's what it means to be a good citizen. It's accepting the responsibility for making your community and country a better place."\nThroughout his career, he has done just that.\nHis "first successful job" out of graduate school was running a grant program in New York City. He went on to get his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1982. He was president of Hudson Institute in Indianapolis, known internationally for research in public policy. He worked in Washington, D.C. as president of the Institute for Educational Affairs and deputy director of the United States Information Agency. He worked at the American Enterprise Institute. He was the director of research at the Smith Richardson Foundation.\nHe first joined the faculty at the IU campus in Indianapolis in 1997, following seven years at the Hudson Institute. He wanted to spend the rest of his career teaching young people.\n"IU is far and away the best place in the world to teach philanthropy," he said. "It's very rewarding when you can advise students. The most important thing that motivates me as a teacher is to help people get going in their career."\nLenkowsky's unique experiences enable him to approach teaching differently. His background allows him to help students find their place in philanthropy. \n"He has always balanced research and academics," said former student and current colleague Heather Mooney. "He brings that to the classroom. It makes an impact on the students since he's seen how these theories play out on a very high level."\nMooney, who graduated from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs master's program and is currently the SPEA alumni coordinator for careers services and alumni affairs, said Lenkowsky has done so much for her and helped her realize many opportunities available.\n"He brings so many different ideas and resources to the table," she said. "Because he's been in so many different positions, he has a better grasp of the resources and can point me in ten different directions that I never would have thought of."\nBut Lenkowsky teaches to his students the concept of "serial reciprocity," or passing along good will and helping other people. After the events of Sept. 11, he saw how taking the position with the Corporation for National and Community Service offered that opportunity. President Bush was the fourth president he served under.\n"I felt really privileged to serve President Bush," Lenkowsky said. "After Sept. 11, any doubts ended right there. If the president felt I could help, I was going to do it."\nLenkowsky is proud of the time he served the corporation, and he is impressed by what he saw from the American people. \n"Under my watch, President Bush was the first president ever to increase a national service program he didn't create," he said. "In my job, I would end up visiting some of the worst parts of America and seeing some of the best people. It's realizing the battles going on everyday by extraordinary people."\nLinh Preston, a graduate of IU-Purdue University, Indianapolis, received her master's of arts in philanthropic studies under the teaching and guidance of Lenkowsky. She currently works for United Way of Central Indiana in Indianapolis. \n"He started off as my professor and advisor," she said. "He's been my mentor and my friend. He always keeps people first in mind."\nPreston recalled her graduation ceremony from IU where Lenkowsky, who came back from Washington D.C. to see his son graduate from IU, took time out and spent part of the important day with her and her family.\n"He offered to hood me during one of my graduation ceremonies," she said. "I wasn't even planning on going through it before. He cares so much about his students and former students."\nLenkowsky loves the ability to help his students. He said the most important accomplishment in life is when you are able to "pass it on."\n"It's not enough just to be good-hearted," he said. "It's important to translate good intentions into action."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Megan Hubartt at mhubartt@indiana.edu.