The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate, The Partnership, Inc., announced that the John H. Taylor, Jr. Education Leadership award will go to Daniel Rich, professor of public policy and director of the Community Engagement Initiative at the University of Delaware.
Rich also serves as policy director for the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission.
The John H. Taylor, Jr. Education Leadership Award recognizes someone within the community who has provided sustained leadership in advancing Delaware education and has made the community a better place to live and work. The Partnership, Inc. is the 501(c)3 education affiliate of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce.
“I have worked with the state chamber for decades in various capacities,” said Rich. “I was one of the initial members of The Partnership, Inc. and I served as a member of the Board of the Delaware Public Policy Institute from 2001 until 2015, working closely with John Taylor. I am deeply honored to receive the education leadership award from the State Chamber. To receive an education leadership award named for John has great personal importance to me because he is one of the individuals who has most influenced my own outlook on public education and what needs to be done to provide high-quality educational opportunities to all students.”
In 2016, former Gov. Jack Markell inducted Rich into the Order of the First State for his service to the citizens of Delaware. He has served as chair of the Delaware Early Childhood Council, a leader of the Vision Coalition education reform effort, a Delaware Commissioner to the Education Commission of the States and a member of many Delaware education boards, commissions and councils.
His research has focused on education policy, urban policy, energy policy, and science and technology policy; and his publications include 13 books and edited volumes, and more than 100 articles, monographs and professional papers.
The award will be presented at the Superstars in Education Reception & Awards Ceremony on Monday, May 8 at Wilmington University’s Doberstein Admissions Center Auditorium.
