Audra Lewis epitomizes agency, leveraging her robust character and leadership skills both in her professional endeavors and in service to her community. Her overarching mission is to bridge the gap between the educational realm and the workforce, aiming to enhance economic mobility for all individuals. Lewis has dedicated her career to improving college access, retention, and success for first-generation and students of color in secondary and post-secondary education. Lewis is a graduate with an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from National Louis University, where her community-engaged research focuses on experiential learning and reshaping the educational landscape to mimic the workforce skill demands.
Central to Lewis's approach is her prioritization of people and relationships above all else. As a volunteer Girl Scout leader, her drive to effect positive change in the world. Additionally, as a member of the National Society for Leadership and Success, her ultimate aim is to empower others, thereby contributing to creating a more promising future for society as a whole. As a Lettuce Turnip, the Beet Sustainability Collective board member, Lewis dedicates herself to solving food insecurity through education programming.
With nearly two decades dedicated to transforming the educational landscape within the nation's seventh-largest school district, Lewis has served as an instructional leader, impacting the lives of countless learners. Presently, she is the Engagement Manager of the Office of Community Outreach at the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg campus, where she spearheads initiatives in workforce development and champions experiential learning.
Lewis ardently believes in the principle of equitable access to education for all learners, regardless of their zip code. She advocates for providing high-quality experiences, resources, and instruction, firmly asserting that zip codes should not serve as determinants of access.
