Thomas P. Lauth ’76 Ph.D. (PSc) was awarded the President’s Medal by the University of Georgia (UGA) in January 2020, an honor recognizing those who have provided extraordinary support to students, research and programs, as well as inspiration to community leaders.

It was a fitting honor for Lauth, as he valued scholastic achievement and community service throughout his life. A highly regarded professor and administrator, he was professor emeritus of public administration and policy and dean emeritus of the UGA School of Public and International Affairs.

Lauth passed away on May 13, 2023. He was 85.

Lauth earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame before he completed a Ph.D. in political science at Maxwell. He was a UGA faculty member from 1981 to 2013 and served as head of the Department of Political Science from 1988 until 2001 when he became founding dean of the School of Public and International Affairs.

In addition to his role at UGA, Lauth served in numerous other positions. He was president of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration; an appointee on the U.S. Comptroller General’s Educator Advisory Panel; an elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration; and a District 7 representative on the Athens-Clarke County Citizens Advisory Committee.

Lauth’s honors include the Aaron B. Wildavsky Award for lifetime achievement in budgeting and financial management.