Former Ethics Center Director Peggy Kerns Dies.

• Author: Lays, Julie
• Position: In memoriam

You always knew when Peggy Kerns was in the room. She was the bold one who could ask the uncomfortable questions that were on everyone's mind. "Peggy had an authentic and formidable presence. She offered sage advice and criticism when warranted. She spoke her truth and made all of us better because of it," says Caroline Carlson, director of the NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures. "She shaped so many of our lives in a meaningful way."

"She was a graceful professional--confident, experienced, hardworking and so very driven to do her best," says Brian Weberg, former director of NCSL's Center for Legislative Strengthening. "How lucky was I to be able to work with her all those years, to receive her support and wisdom, good humor and stern logic."

In 1999, Kerns became the first director of the Center for Ethics in Government, housed at NCSL's headquarters in Denver. There she became a national expert on state ethics laws and norms. For 16 years, she gave presentations, trained lawmakers and wrote frequently for NCSL's State Legislatures magazine on government ethics before retiring in 2015.

"She was the embodiment of eternal youth: bounding down the hallways, greeting and speaking to everyone, working long hours, coming up with endless ideas for future projects," says Mark Quiner, the current director of NCSL's ethics center. "She 'walked the walk' and taught me so much about living a life of integrity," Quiner says.

Before developing the ethics center, President Bill Clinton appointed her to be deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education. Before that, from 1989 to 1997, she served in the Colorado House of Representatives, including two years as the first female minority leader. Her most important legislative work dealt with education, welfare reform and domestic violence, and she was recognized with awards from a variety of businesses, nonprofit organizations and education groups.

"She had an amazing ability to instantly relate to...