“I am so deeply humbled to have been chosen as the homecoming speaker this year. Attending FAMU was one of the best transformative decisions in my life, and my FAMU experience developed me into the leader that I am today,” said Lee. “I would not be where I am without the love and charity of the FAMU-ly! ”
Lee is considered a leading authority on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and has worked to design programs and initiatives to strengthen HBCUs for the future. As vice president in the Office for Access and Success (OAS), Lee supports the APLU Council of 1890 Universities, the Commission on Access, Diversity and Excellence (CADE), Hispanic Serving Institutions and the OAS Advisory Board. During his tenure he has established a record of quality publications, created national initiatives, provided effective federal and state advocacy, increased fundraising, expanded collaboration with partners and increased the engagement of minority-serving institutions.
An accomplished researcher and scholar, Lee has published several peer-reviewed journal articles, policy reports, a book, numerous articles, and paper presentations at various conferences on topics ranging from diverse student populations to student access and success. Example peer-reviewed articles include “Investigating Black Students’ Disinclination to Consider and Attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities” (2010) and the “United States v. Fordice: Mississippi Higher Education without Public Historically Black Colleges and Universities” (2010). John is the author of the book American Higher Education without Public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2011).
Prior to his work at APLU, Lee served as the policy director for the College Board’s Advocacy & Policy Center where he led a variety of initiatives that include the College Completion Agenda, the Latino Edition of the College Completion Agenda, The Educational Experience Facing Young Men of Color, and the Annual Survey of School Counselors. While at the College Board, Lee authored the College Completion Agenda 2010 and 2011 Progress Reports; the Latino Edition of the College Completion Agenda 2011 Progress Report and Context Brief; and the Educational Experience Facing Young Men of Color: A Review of Research, Pathways and Progress. He is also the co-author of the research brief entitled “Hispanic Serving Institutions: Challenges and Contributions.”
In addition to his bachelor of arts degree from FAMU, Lee earned a master of public administration from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the Steinhardt School of Culture Education and Human Development at New York University.
Lee is a member of several professional associations including the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) and the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE). Lee is also a life member of the FAMU National Alumni Association, Treasurer of the DC Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association, a member of the FAMU Marching 100 Alumni Association, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
The homecoming convocation can be viewed online at http://www.famu.edu/famcast/ beginning at 10:10 am.
