We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on one of Cleary University’s newest adjunct professors, J.J. Lewis, Ed.D.(c), who is not only making an impact in the classroom, but also in the lives of children across the Great Lakes region. Please join us in congratulating him on receiving the 2025 Champion for Children Award from LACASA Center! We caught up with J.J. to learn more about his work, what brought him to Cleary, and why camp is close to his heart.
Q: What inspired you to start North Star Reach?
Actually, I didn’t start North Star Reach—but I’ve been cheering it on since before it opened. North Star Reach launched in 2016 in Pinckney, Michigan, with a mission to provide transformational camp experiences, free of charge, to children with serious health challenges and their families. I was living in Howell at the time and remember making my first donation in 2014, during their capital campaign to build the camp.
North Star Reach is part of the SeriousFun Children’s Network, founded by Paul Newman. As a fellow member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity—just like Paul—I’ve supported the Network since my undergraduate days at Central Michigan University. While the camp was being built, I was serving as Phi Kappa Tau’s National Service Advisor. I helped organize our “Founders Weekend of Service,” where fraternity brothers from around the country came to camp to assemble bunk beds and get the space ready for kids. In a way, I like to think they were the very first campers!
Camping played a huge role in my childhood—I grew up camping with my family and through the Boy Scouts. I know firsthand how powerful those experiences can be. Not all children get that chance, especially those facing serious medical conditions. North Star Reach makes that possible, providing a safe, fun, and inclusive space thanks to our medical team and facilities. We work hard to remove barriers like cost so every child can experience that same joy and sense of belonging.
Q: What do you find rewarding about being CEO of North Star Reach?
So much! First and foremost, I get to work with an incredible team of professionals and volunteers—on staff, on our board, and in the community—who are deeply committed to our mission. April 22 marks my one-year anniversary as CEO, and I continue to be moved by what we do.
What’s most rewarding is watching kids be kids. When they’re at camp, they connect with peers who understand their experiences, and they can just have fun—what Paul Newman called “raising a little hell.” It’s an honor to help create a space where kids and families find community, joy, and lifelong memories.
Q: What brought you to Cleary, and are you enjoying your role as an adjunct professor?
Absolutely! I was born and raised in Howell and even attended Cleary for a term back in 2002, right as Cleary College was becoming Cleary University. After some time away—working in California as Superintendent & CEO of Compass Charter Schools and later as Chief Philanthropy Officer at United Way of the Lakeshore—I returned home to lead North Star Reach.
Teaching at Cleary felt like the perfect way to give back to the community that shaped me. I love that Cleary instructors bring real-world experience into the classroom. In my courses, I approach things as a facilitator—we’re all learning together. I value the insights my students bring and aim to make the content real and relevant by sharing my own professional journey. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience so far.
Q: What are your thoughts on receiving the Champion for Children award?
It’s truly an honor—for me, and for the entire North Star Reach team. This award recognizes the important work we’re doing: creating magical, meaningful experiences for children with serious health challenges, and opportunities for our community to get involved.
Our programming is made possible by generous donors and dedicated volunteers. Right now, we have a $600,000 matching gift from The Ted and Jane Von Voigtlander Foundation, which will double every donation. We also have volunteer opportunities coming up, including our Spring Work Weekend (May 2–4), our Open House (May 17), and our first Family Camp Weekend of the year (June 27–29).
We’d love to have more families and volunteers join our campily. I hope this recognition helps more people discover what we do and inspires them to get involved. Come experience Mooseness with us this summer!
For more information, visit northstarreach.org.
