A simple lecture at Teachers College and a cup of coffee afterwards were all that it took to bring Roy and Debbie Lewicki together.

“I was a doctoral student in TC’s Social-Organizational Psychology program, and she was pursuing her master’s degree in Social Studies Education at TC. A friend of ours connected us. We both attended a lecture by Professor Morton Deutsch, my advisor, and then went out for coffee. The rest is history,” recalls Roy (Ph.D. '69). The two alums married a year later.

As the Lewickis built careers in education (Roy) and ministry (Debbie), they deepened their commitment to teacher excellence in education. Their shared desire to support the next generation of educators and leaders inspired them to support several programs at Teachers College. 

Over the years, the Roy and Deborah Lewicki Scholarship Fund has supported rising doctoral students in TC’s Social-Organizational Psychology program. For Roy, his time as a TC doctoral student was the foundation for many of his professional years. At Teachers College, he worked closely with the great Morton Deutsch, studying conflict resolution. “The late 1960s at Columbia was a great time to be studying conflict resolution,” he notes. “Deutsch was an incredible advisor and supporter. He was an intellectual grandfather to the field, and to all who had the privilege of working with him.” 

After graduating from TC, Roy built his career at several universities. He is currently the Irving Abramowitz Memorial Professor at The Ohio State University and has written and edited over 40 books and numerous articles, while providing strong leadership for the teaching of negotiation and dispute resolution in schools of business and law. 

Recently, Roy provided the design and faculty leadership for a state-funded program designed and delivered by the Ohio State Colleges of Business and Education. The program trains principals to be transformative leaders and to make a difference in high-poverty, low-performing public schools in Ohio. “Today, conflict resolution skills are critical for all leaders," he shares. “I’ve been able to guide those who represent the next generation of educators and leaders because of skills my doctoral education taught me years ago.”           

The Lewickis hope to make a lasting impact on the education of public school teachers through their recently established Lewicki Scholarship Fund for Classroom Teachers. The impetus for this fund came from Debbie’s gratitude for the influence of educators who inspired Debbie to become a teacher. “They helped me find my voice; and they broadened my perspective of the world by challenging me to read, to ask questions and to travel. My experience at TC helped me develop the skills to become an educator with those same sensitivities. I hope those who take advantage of this scholarship will be similarly nourished.”

This year, the Lewickis furthered their commitment to teacher excellence by supporting TC’s Empire State Residency Program and its teacher-certification initiatives. Their generous contributions will provide vital funding for stipends for mentor teachers in the Empire State Residency Program, which launched this past fall. The program aims to address the national teacher shortage by supporting a diverse cohort of teacher certification students dedicated to classroom teaching in public schools. Providing necessary financial assistance to educators, the program allows recipients to enter the profession with minimal financial burden and a stronger motivation to sustain their commitment to education. 

Through support from the Lewickis, mentor teachers will help meet the needs of NYC’s most vulnerable learners: those with disabilities and those learning English as an additional language. 

“The support provided by the Lewickis will have a profound impact on new teachers and mentor teachers across NYC,” shared Aimee Katembo, Director of TC’s Office of Teacher Education. “This funding will allow us to place our teaching residents with seasoned mentor teachers who are long term partners of TC’s teacher preparation programs. These mentors will provide the ideal foundation for the professional growth of our residents.”