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{{Short description|Lasallian university in Romeoville, Illinois, US}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Lewis University
 | image                  = Lewis University seal.svg
 | image_size             = 150
 | former_names           = {{collapsible list|bullets=true|contents=|Holy Name Technical School (1932-1934)|Lewis Holy Name Technical School (1934-1935)|Lewis Holy Name School of Aeronautics (1935-1952)| Lewis College of Science & Technology (1952-1962)|Lewis College (1962-1973)}}
 | motto                  = Signum Fidei ([[Latin]])
 | mottoeng               = ''Sign of Faith''
 | established            = {{start date and age|1932}}
 | founder                = Bishop Bernard J. Scheil  (Archdiocese of Chicago)
 | type                   = [[Private university]]
 | religious_affiliation  = [[Catholic church|Roman Catholic]] ([[De La Salle Brothers|Christian Brothers]])
 | academic_affiliations  = [[Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities|ACCU]] [[Council of Independent Colleges|CIC]]<br />[[National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities|NAICU]]
 | endowment              = $119.326m
 | president              = David J. Livingston
 | faculty                = 235<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lewisu.edu/errors/404.htm?404;http://www.lewisu.edu:80/masterplan/pdf/2013-01-31+Campus+Master+Plan.pdf|title=Lewis University|website=www.lewisu.edu}}</ref> (full-time)
 | undergrad              = 4,613<ref name="colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com">{{cite web|url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/lewis-university-1707|title=Lewis University|work=rankingsandreviews.com|access-date=April 20, 2014|archive-date=March 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317113507/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/lewis-university-1707|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | postgrad               = 2,685
 | city                   = [[Romeoville, Illinois|Romeoville]]
 | state                  = [[Illinois]]
 | country                = [[United States]]
 | campus                 = [[Suburb]]an
 | campus_size            = {{Convert|410|acre}}
 | free_label             = Newspaper
 | free                   = ''[[The Lewis Flyer]]''
 | colors                 = {{color box|red|Red}} and {{color box|white|White}}
 | athletics              = 
 | nickname               = [[Lewis Flyers|Flyers]]
 | sporting_affiliations  = [[NCAA Division II]]<br />[[Great Lakes Valley Conference|GLVC]], [[Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association|MIVA]]
 | website                = {{URL|https://www.lewisu.edu/|lewisu.edu}}
 | logo                   = Lewis univ logo.png
| logo_size = 150
}}

'''Lewis University''' is a [[Private university|private]] [[Lasallian]] university in [[Romeoville, Illinois]], United States, enrolls approximately 6,600 students in over 80 undergraduate programs, 35 graduate programs, and offers accelerated programs for working adults. The National Weather Service's Chicago/Romeoville office is also situated on campus.

==History==
Lewis University was founded in 1932 by the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago|Archdiocese of Chicago]] and Bishop Bernard J. Scheil as the ''Holy Name Technical School''. The school gets its name from philanthropist Frank J. Lewis who funded the construction of many of the school's buildings. During these early days, aviation technology courses were chosen as the special emphasis of instruction, becoming the origin of today's highly regarded Department of Aviation and Transportation Studies. The school was incorporated in 1934 under the name '''Lewis Holy Name Technical School'''. In 1935, it became '''Lewis Holy Name School of Aeronautics''', a name which is engraved in stone on the building now known as the Philip Lynch Theatre at the Oremus Fine Arts Center.

During [[World War II]], normal classes were suspended as the campus was given to the [[United States Navy]] to train pilots. The campus is adjacent to the [[Lewis University Airport]]. Regular classes resumed in late 1944 and the college soon adopted a more traditional arts and science curriculum. Women were admitted for the first time in 1949. Three years later, the school's name was changed to the ''Lewis College of Science and Technology''. The institution's name was shortened to simply ''Lewis College'' in 1962 and finally received its current name of ''Lewis University'' in 1973.

In 2004 and 2005, Lewis enrolled more than 5,000 total students. In 2019, Lewis University offered more than 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, an accelerated degree completion option for working adults, various aviation programs, and 35 graduate programs. The university also offers degree programs in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]].

In 2016, David J. Livingston, former president of [[Lourdes University]] in [[Sylvania, Ohio]], succeeded James Gaffney as the 10th president of the university. Gaffney retired after 28 years of leadership and service to Lewis University and its students.

== Organization ==
* College of Aviation, Science and Technology
* College of Business
* College of Education and Social Sciences
* College of Humanities, Fine Arts and Communications
* College of Nursing and Health Sciences
* School of Graduate, Professional and Continuing Education

== Athletics ==
{{Main|Lewis Flyers}}
The Lewis athletic teams are called the Flyers. The university is a member of the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] level of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA), primarily competing in the [[Great Lakes Valley Conference]] (GLVC) for most of its sports since the 1980–81 academic year; while its men's volleyball team compete in the [[Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association]] (MIVA). Since it is not a sponsored sport at the Division II level, the men's volleyball team is the only program that plays in Division I.

Prior to joining the NCAA, Lewis was a member of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA), primarily competing in the [[Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference]] (CCAC) from 1954–55 to 1979–80.

Lewis competes in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, stunt, swimming, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

== Notable alumni ==
{{alumni|date=September 2023}}
===Arts, culture and entertainment===
* [[Kay Cannon]], wrote the screenplay for the ''[[Pitch Perfect (film series)|Pitch Perfect]]'' movies, directed ''[[Blockers (film)|Blockers]]'', 2021 ''Cinderella'', 2010 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series (''[[30 Rock]]''), actress and improvisational performer<ref name="Lewis University">{{cite web|url= https://lewisu.edu/news/newsarticle.htm?PArticleID=8283|title=Lewis University's Philip Lynch Theatre celebrates 35 years
| publisher= Lewis University|access-date= January 1, 2014}}</ref>
* [[John Caponera]], television actor and comedian<ref>{{cite web|url= https://lewisu.edu/news/newsarticle.htm?PArticleID=8283|title= Lewis University's Philip Lynch Theatre celebrates 35 years| publisher= Lewis University|access-date= January 1, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Chaka Khan]], real name Yvette Marie Stevens, performer and eight-time [[Grammy]] award-winning artist; four-time [[American Music Award]]-winning artist; [[Black Entertainment Television|BET]] Lifetime Achievement Award winner<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jan/19/urban.theatre|title=Chaka gets her groove back
|work=the guardian|date=19 January 2008
|access-date= January 1, 2014}}</ref>
* [[John Loprieno]], television actor in ''[[One Life to Live]]'', ''[[Search for Tomorrow]]'', and ''[[As the World Turns]]''<ref name="Lewis University"/>

===Government, law, politics and activism===
* [[James Laski]], former [[Chicago City Clerk]], controversial [[talk radio]] host, and author of ''My Fall From Grace — From City Hall to Prison Walls''
* [[Edward Maloney]], former member of the [[Illinois Senate]]
* [[Tim McCarthy]], former Chief of Police of Orland Park, Illinois; former member of the United States Secret Service. During the 1981 Reagan assassination attempt, he turned into the line of fire, shielded Ronald Reagan, and was wounded from one of John Hinckley, Jr.'s bullets.
* [[Tom O'Halleran]], member of the [[United States House of Representatives]], representing [[Arizona's 1st congressional district]]
* [[Charles H. Ramsey]], Commissioner of the [[Philadelphia Police Department]] (2008–present); Chief of the [[Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia]] (1998–2006)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mpdc.dc.gov/biography/charles-h-ramsey| title=Charles H. Ramsey| publisher=The District of Columbia| access-date= January 1, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Arthur Turner (politician)|Arthur Turner]], member and Deputy Majority Leader of the [[Illinois House of Representatives]]
* [[Julia Tukai Zvobgo]], Zimbabwean activist and politician
* [[Lisa Holder White]], justice of the [[Illinois Supreme Court]] (2022-present).

===Science, technology and medicine===
* [[Michael H. Wynn]], podiatrist responsible for the development of the CO<sub>2</sub> laser technique for the treatment of [[bunion]]s

===Sports===
{{see|Lewis Flyers}}

== Campus media ==
* ''[[The Lewis Flyer]]''
* [[WLRA]] (88.1 [[FM broadcasting|FM]])

==See also==
*[[Fitzpatrick House (Lockport, Illinois)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{ccat}}
* {{oweb}}
* [https://lewisflyers.com/ Athletics website]

{{Great Lakes Valley Conference navbox}}
{{Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association navbox}}
{{Colleges and universities in metropolitan Chicago}}
{{Lasallian universities and colleges in the United States}}
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Lewis University| ]]
[[Category:Lasallian colleges and universities]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1932]]
[[Category:Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities]]
[[Category:Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association]]
[[Category:Education in Will County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Will County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Romeoville, Illinois]]
[[Category:Catholic universities and colleges in Illinois]]
[[Category:Diocese of Joliet]]
[[Category:Aviation schools in the United States]]
[[Category:1932 establishments in Illinois]]