Former Senator Bob Casey joins the university community – and has more than students and university faculty can imagine to offer.  

He joins the university community as a Leahy distinguished fellow in public service. Students will have the opportunity to both learn and engage with Sen. Casey. Specifically – on the importance of public service, which is a core value at the University of Scranton.  

“Every student should be exposed to at least the basic concepts of what public service is or what it should be. And then they can make up their mind over time, whether they want to commit a huge portion of their life to public service or a part of it,” Sen. Casey said.  

As a new member of the university, Sen. Casey said he feels really fortunate to have this opportunity. He said he knows and feels that this university has a great community. He’s enjoyed the vibrancy and the ability to engage with students – especially getting to speak to different classes, and he feels great privilege to be able to do so.  

What Scranton students have the opportunity for is to learn about real-world perspectives and a foundation to what public service is all about. Public service work can sometimes be misunderstood, and Sen. Casey said he hopes that young people especially do not have a negative perspective of what public service is. What they may not realize is – they have the ability to leave an impact. Young people play a much bigger role in public service than people may realize. That includes work that happens in the country, especially in government.  

“Young people pushing for change from outside the system. We've seen evidence of that, especially the last 10 years or 15 years. A little more, even in 25 years. But also young people within government. I've seen it firsthand, not just my staff, but staffs of house members and senators across the country who have a huge impact on public policy because they're doing the negotiating, they're doing the hard work that results in a bipartisan deal or some kind of policy change,” Sen. Casey said.  

Of course, involvement in public service can be intimidating, or difficult to join when people have their own paths they want to follow. Sen. Casey said it is understandable for people to be hesitant of stepping toward public service work.  

“It's a function of time. In other words, time in their own lives. They have a career to pursue and they don't have the often, not every case, but often don't the luxury, the opportunity just to deviate, I'm going to work in government for a while, and then I'll go back into my job. They're on a career path, and they've got to achieve what they can there. So sometimes they're practical limitations in terms of your family and your obligations to both your family and your career. Sometimes they want to engage in public service, but don't have the opportunity or the opening or don't feel like they know anyone that can help them open a door,” Sen. Casey said.  

Sen. Casey said he hopes to give students a sense of the different ways one can open the door to public service. He was a public official for 28 straight years and understands that not everyone will follow that length of time or will have the ability to. That’s not to discourage anyone, though. Many citizen servants are involved in their communities while having a career.  

Sen. Casey refers to Dr. Martin Luther King, who said: “One can be great, one can be great because everyone can serve.”  As there are many places, and many opportunities to serve.  

What guides Sen. Casey through his work? The principial that public service is a trust, given in faith, and accepted in honor, which succinctly describes what public service should be about. Sen. Casey was inspired by this from his work at the Finance Building in Harrisburg, which is where the inscription can be found. He spent 10 years working there as an auditor general for eight years and state treasurer for two years.  

“If we're going to be a functioning democracy, if we're going to have a government in the society that we hope to achieve. We're always striving to perfect our union. And we've still got obviously lots of work to do. But that description of public service is a trust, that it's given in faith, that in other words, voters, when they vote for an individual gives you that opportunity to serve, not just you, the elected official, but everybody that works with you,” Sen. Casey said.  

The principal applies every day in public service work, because it is a big responsibility to carry, one that requires diligence and honor everyday.  

“They give that trust to you or that power, that piece of their piece of the power, so to speak, and our society. They give that power to you in faith. And the elected officials were appointed officials, if anyone was working with them they had to accept that trust with honor. And if you're going to accept it with honor, that means every day you're doing that work, you have to do your work honorably. Right. And you can't engage in corruption, even one day,” Sen. Casey said.  

Sen. Casey believes it is important to expose students to as much as they want to learn or listen to above government and how it works. That can vary to an old war story, to how a bill was passed. Either way, it’s a learning and growing opportunity for students.  

Sen. Casey’s decades worth of experience has given him the opportunity to pass many pieces of legislation that change the world for the better. For example, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE), was a simple act that changes the tax code to allow people to save for a disability, just as a student would save for college.  

“There was for these children in this circumstance who didn't, who have a disability and their family wants to save for them when they become an adult. They didn't have a vehicle to save. In fact, there was a penalty attached to saving more than $2,000. Right. They would lose other benefits. So, we had to change a lot to make sure that didn't happen. So now families can save whatever they want over the course of a year and then over five years or ten years,” Sen. Casey said.  

The work done by Sen. Casey leaves real meaning and brings better lives to people.

“By the time that, say that young child, to a young girl, hits the age of 18. her family could have if they opened these accounts, saved money so that she can use that money as an adult. to pay for. It might be to use it to go to college. Right. If she wants. Yeah. But that shouldn't be the only way you can save. Yeah. She could use those dollars to buy assistive technology,” Casey said.  

Sen. Casey said this act can allow people to do something as simply getting out the front door in the morning, which can help them be just fine.  

What Sen. Casey wants students to remember is the value of being at this university. As being students at a Jesuit institution, we have an obligation to public service, public trust, faith and people, honorable service, diligence, working hard, and committing ourselves to a kind of excellence.  

“Public service is infused with Jesuit values... you've heard, the Jesuits often talk about, be a person for others, try to help others. core a personalist, to care for the individual, care for people in your community... And I think that's true in public service as well. It's not just a nine to five job. And it's not just a paycheck. You've got to be committed, not just an honorable service, but service that makes a difference in service that is grounded in hard work and developing skill and expertise. So the Jesuits, I think it being on a Jesuit school, I think you have a little bit of an advantage because you understand some of the principles that are already kind of undergirding or form the foundation of public service,” Sen. Casey said.  

Sen. Casey’s life was changed forever when he joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. He said that once he began serving people, he was given a perspective on life he had never considered before.  

“You'll be ruined for life, meaning in a good way. Cause you you'll never have the same outlook on life again. Perspective, right? Because you will have served people. You will have seen people that didn't have the advantages you did.  And you'll maybe appreciate your own life. A little more,” Casey said.  

Sen. Casey’s dedication to public service has changed many people’s lives for the better. Through his honor, his trust, given in faith, and accepted in honor, he has been able to demonstrate what it means to serve.  

University of Scranton students are highly encouraged to get involved in public service work. As students at a Jesuit institution, we have an obligation to be men and women for others.  

If you wish to speak with Sen. Casey for more, he holds open office hours on Thursdays.

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