Bob Casey, former United States senator and Scranton native, joins the University as a Leahy Distinguished Fellow in Public Service.  

Casey will serve as a consultant for students and advise on relevant initiatives and activities that involve public service and leadership, according to Royal News.  

Casey, who recently spoke at the University, said he is looking forward to providing Scranton students with a “real-world perspective” on government, policy, politics and elections – all while hoping to provide an appreciation and an understanding of public service in students beyond just those who are interested in politics.  

“All of us together can provide opportunities for young people to learn about public service, to be inspired to serve. It doesn’t have to be public office. It doesn’t have to be in government. Even if you’re running the biggest corporation in the world, you can still work on behalf of the public in some fashion,” Casey said.  

Casey is a Scranton native and has made his life and career a commitment to public service. He won six state elections, serving as Pennsylvania’s auditor general for two terms, from 1997 to 2005; one term as state treasurer from 2005 to 200, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006, where he remained in office until 2025.  

Casey said he believes the younger generation has an obligation to step up and chose to be ethical, and that can look different for everyone.  

“As difficult as it is and as onerous as it could be on the candidate or the public official, it is still a high calling. We need the next generation — some of whom are in this room — of young people in the United States of America to choose to serve. They might choose to serve and have different points of view than I do, or other students might have. But just like the University’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service is already doing, I believe it’s critically important that young people are inspired and even taught that if you serve in public office, you have to do it ethically. You could have different points of view or a different philosophy, but everybody’s got to be ethical,” Casey said.

Sen. Casey has an eye for practical solutions. Over the course of his 18-year career, he has earned the reputation as an effective legislator. Sen. Casey authorized and passed 99 pieces of legislation into law, one of which includes Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which is widely know for its impact on people with disabilities since the Americans with disabilities Act, according to Royal News.  

Sen. Casey serves as chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and is a dedicated member of the Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP), where he actively serves in Congress for children, workers, seniors and people with disabilities.  

University President the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., said he is grateful to have an asset like Casey join the University community.    

“I am truly delighted to welcome Sen. Casey to our University. His Jesuit education has served him well for decades and I have no doubt he will continue to bring his Jesuit values to bear in this exciting, new role. I am very grateful to the senator and the Leahys for making this new initiative possible,” Marina said.

As a Catholic and Jesuit institution, the university teaches and serves based off the principles of St. Ignatius.  

Casey graduated from Scranton Preparatory School, a Jesuit high school in Scranton, and the College of the Holy Cross. He also spent a year as a Jesuit volunteer, where he served as a teacher and a coach in North Philadelphia, before he earned his law degree from Catholic University.  

“Public service is infused with Jesuit values. I think we have to bring those values to the public square and try to move our society forward,” Sen. Casey said.

At the University, Casey will work in a part-time position, and will serve as a mentor for students who wish to work in public service. He will work as an adviser for the Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service on program initiatives while sharing expertise with regional government entities in outreach activities. He will also serve as a resource for the broader community on health care, aging, ethics, government, accountability, and public service issues through lectures and seminars.  

Casey will help University administrators with government relations and resource development.  

The Leahy fellowship is supported by Edward ’68, H’01 and Patricia Leahy.

The students and the community of the university have the opportunity to benefit from the programs, advice and discussions that will soon be available to them.  

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