JUDSON CENTER PRESIDENT & CEO LENORA HARDY-FOSTER TO RECEIVE 2025 LIFETIME CONTRIBUTION AWARD FROM LOCAL CHAPTER OF AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Farmington Hills, MI – Judson Center President & CEO Lenora Hardy-Foster has been selected to receive the 2025 Lifetime Contribution Award presented by the Detroit Metropolitan Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). The award recognizes the lifetime contribution by an individual whose outstanding career in public service has facilitated good governance practices in the Detroit Metropolitan area.
“I am truly honored to be recognized by my peers for making a difference in our communities,” said Hardy-Foster. “When I started out in my career, I thought I would be working for corporate America, but after getting a job in the nonprofit industry, I knew this was where I was supposed to be. I feel good about what I’ve accomplished and the lives I have helped to change for the better. I encourage others to follow their dreams if they have a passion for community service. Nonprofits need strategic thinkers, great leaders and visionaries.”
“We are certainly happy to honor Lenora this year for her legacy of service and contributions to the community,” said Aimee Szabo, vice president of ASPA’s Detroit Chapter. “She is truly deserving of this honor. Lenora’s exemplary career, leadership, mentorship and dedication to serving others were deciding factors in her being selected as this year’s recipient of the lifetime achievement award.”
The award will be presented at the ASPA chapter’s Annual Meeting and Public Service Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, June 10th from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester. The event is titled “Forward From Here” and features a keynote address from Michigan Municipal League State and Federal Affairs Director John LaMacchia II. He will discuss how local communities and nonprofits can navigate the uncertainties of government funding and programming.
Hardy-Foster has served as Judson Center’s President & CEO since 2016. In this role, she is responsible for the overall operations and strategic direction of the human services agency and its three wholly owned subsidiaries by creating new partnerships and working diligently with the Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership Team.
Hardy-Foster earned an undergraduate degree in Business and a Master of Business Administration from University of Detroit Mercy. She previously served as Executive Director & CFO for the Detroit nonprofit organization Southwest Solutions.
Hardy-Foster’s commitment to the community is reflected through a variety of leadership roles, which include serving as Chair of the Board of Directors for the University of Detroit Mercy College of Business Administration and the Michigan Federation for Children and Families. She is the Immediate Past Board Chair for Incompass Michigan, Treasurer on the Hannan Center Board of Trustees, and a member of the JARC Board of Directors.
About American Society for Public Administration
Since 1939, ASPA has been the nation’s most respected society representing all forums in the public service arena. It is an advocate for greater effectiveness in government, agents of goodwill and
professionalism, publishers of democratic journalism at its very best, purveyors of progressive theory and practice, and providers of global citizenship. ASPA leaders believe that by embracing new ideas, addressing key public service issues and promoting change at the local, federal and international levels, the society can enhance the quality of lives worldwide. ASPA is the largest and most prominent broadly based professional association in American public administration. It has a diverse membership of approximately 10,000 practitioners, academicians and students. For more information, visit www.aspanet.org.
About Judson Center
Judson Center,trusted by Michigan families for more than 100 years, is a non-profit human service agency providing expert, comprehensive services that strengthen children, adults and families impacted by abuse and neglect, autism, and developmental, behavioral and physical health challenges so they can achieve whole health, well-being, and maximum potential. Since opening its doors in 1924, Judson Center has grown to change the lives of more than 13,000 children, adults, and families each year. In 2025, Judson Center was fully certified by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Demonstration site. The agency offers primary care and behavioral healthcare services at Judson Center Health clinic in Warren. Judson Center has offices in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne, Genesee, and Jackson counties. The agency’s headquarters are located at 30301 Northwestern Highway, Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI 48334-3277. Learn more at www.judsoncenter.org.