Dr. Lester returned to Columbus State in January 2024 to continue his higher education
career that has spanned three decades. He transitioned from a career as a newspaper
reporter to news services as the University of Florida before spending 18 years at
Columbus State, where his focus included university, government and community relations,
with more than two years of that tenure as its chief of staff. He served for five
years as vice president for communications and marketing at Georgia Southern University
before his current appointment. In addition to the master of public administration
he earned at Columbus State in 2008, he holds a bachelor’s in journalism from the
University of Florida and a doctor of public administration degree from Valdosta State
University.
