Astrid E. Merget

Astrid Merget died October 13, 2014, after a lengthy battle with cancer. A native of New York, Merget began her professional career as a program officer for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the New York Regional Office. She earned both her Ph.D. and M.P.A. from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and her A.B. with magna cum laude distinction from Mount Holyoke College, the first women's institution for higher education in America. As part of its 175th anniversary in 2012, Mount Holyoke College featured Merget in its "Women of Influence Gallery." Merget arrived at LSU in the fall of 2007, after serving for seven years as dean and professor of IU's School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She would serve as executive vice chancellor and provost until 2010, all while serving on LSU PAI's faculty. In 2011, the board of directors of the National Council for Science and the Environment elected her as its chair, her term ended at the end of July 2013. Merget also served as Associate Dean at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, as Director of the School of Public Policy and Management, Associate Dean, and Acting Dean at The Ohio State University, and chair of the Department of Public Administration at the George Washington University. Merget was named a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and served as a trustee, vice chair and chair of the board. In 2011, the National Council for Science and the Environment Board of Directors selected Merget as its chair. Made up of scientists, academic leaders, philanthropists, public entrepreneurs and former and current public officials who champion a mission to establish solid science as the foundation for environmental decision-making, the board welcomed her more than a decade prior, when she and others teamed with NCSE officials to institutionalize linkages across academic programs of research, teaching and service in environmental science. This resulted in the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, a program that improves the quality of environmental programs at U.S. universities and colleges that now has more than 150 member institutions, including LSU. Merget served as senior adviser to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1994, while on a year's leave from her academic responsibilities. That was not her first foray into Washington, D.C., as she had served as a special assistant to the assistant secretary for policy development and research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1977. She later spent eight years at Ohio State University, where she directed the School of Public Policy and Management, and one year as the acting dean of the College of Business. She also served as the chair of the Department of Public Administration at George Washington University. Among her many honors and achievements, Merget received a fellowship from the National Academy of Public Administration and served as president of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. Twice the U.S. Comptroller General appointed her, and she served on his Research and Education Advisory Panel and the Educators' Panel. She co-chaired the Task Force on Outcomes at the United Way of America, was a founding member of the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors and was a consultant to the International City/County Management Association and numerous other governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations. Survived by: Brother: Andrew George Merget, wife: Lucille Merget. Nephew: Andrew John Merget, wife: Tara Merget. Nephew: J.D. Merget, wife Kathryn Uggen Merget. Two great nephews: Leif and Nils Merget. Two precious Lakeland Terriers: Lady and Iris, who she lovingly referred to as her girls. The family would like to thank the sitters of Home Instead and St. Joseph's Hospice for all of their assistance. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Astrid Merget Fund for Companion Animal Care at the LSU Foundation, 3838 West Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808. Donations will be used to provide medical care to animals whose owners cannot afford treatment. Visitation will be Sunday, November 2, 2014, at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St, 1:00 p.m. until memorial services at 2:00 p.m. There will be a reception immediately following in reception room at Rabenhorst Funeral Home.