City of Lewes, DSU partner for career, workforce training efforts
Leaders from the City of Lewes and Delaware State University met Feb. 18, at Lewes City Hall to begin building what both sides described as a strategic partnership focused on career development, student engagement and municipal workforce training.
The meeting centered on creating structured pathways for DSU students to explore careers in municipal government. Plans include posting City of Lewes employment opportunities on Handshake and through DSU’s Office of Career Services, scheduling campus visits for city officials and coordinating site visits that allow students of all majors to experience the inner workings of city departments.
Dr. Marlene A. Saunders, a DSU board of trustees member, described the partnership as “a creative pathway for young people who desire a career in municipal government,” and it represents a succession plan aimed at developing and retaining Delaware’s future leaders.
“The City of Lewes is pleased to collaborate with Delaware State University to meaningfully integrate municipal policies, practices and governance into academic coursework,” said Lewes Councilman Dr. Joseph Elder. “This partnership creates a dynamic learning environment where students gain real-world experience while helping us address important community needs.”
City officials said the collaboration extends far beyond traditional internships, aiming to build sustainable training pipelines and long-term professional pathways within municipal government.
“This collaboration represents an exciting opportunity to connect education with practical municipal experience,” said Lewes City Manager Ellen Lorraine McCabe. “By working closely with DSU, we will be building structured internships and workforce training programs that expose students to every facet of local government from entry level to management. Our goal is to cultivate the next generation of municipal leaders while ensuring these opportunities are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving needs of our community.”
The partnership is especially meaningful as it unites the state’s historically Black university with the First Town in the First State. The collaboration reflects a shared investment in leadership development, public service and expanding access to opportunity across Delaware. Next steps include reporting the positive outcomes of the meeting to the DSU board of trustees and welcoming the City of Lewes as a guest at the university’s Spring 2026 Career Expo.
