Dr. Joe A. Lee
Joe A. Lee was appointed as the l1th president of Alabama State University in August 2001. Under his leadership, ASU has earned reaffirmations of 10-year accreditations from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the College of Business Administration has earned reaffirmation of accreditation from the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. An ambitious construction schedule has been outlined by his administration that includes academic, social/cultural and residential facilities for the University.

Prior to ASU, Lee served as president of Tougaloo College in Jackson, Miss., a position he held for six years. Lee's background also includes positions as provost/vice president for academic affairs, vice president for student affairs, dean of student services and director of development at Talladega College in Talladega, Ala. He served as a doctoral associate for minority affairs, doctoral associate/administrative assistant and head resident adviser at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. A career educator, Lee also served at the secondary level as director of development and student recruitment and as head of the science department at Southern Normal High School in Brewton, Ala.

Lee's position as former president of the United Negro College Fund's National Alumni Council further demonstrates his dedication to educating youths. He was named Educator of the Year by the Sylacauga/Talladega Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. in recognition of his efforts to improve educational opportunities for all students.

Based on his dynamic leadership, Lee has received numerous citations and awards: the National Alumni Council of the College Fund/UNCF's Order of Merit for Individual Excellence Award, a Presidential Citation from the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, the 1996 First Annual Ellease R. Colston Award from the Council of National Alumni Associations and the 1996 Exemplary Service Award from the Talladega College National Alumni Association. In 1997 the Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce named a scholarship in his honor, and in 1988 he received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the National Alumni Council of the College Fund.

At the national level, Lee has served on the board of directors of numerous organizations, including the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, the United Negro College Fund Inc. and the Lyston Faddis Stallworth Foundation. He was recently appointed vice chairman for public institutions by NAFEO for 2002-2003. In addition, he has served on the NAFEO/MetLife Advisory Committee and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' Council of Presidents. He is currently secretary of the National Advisory Board of the Family and Community Violence Prevention Program. His civic and community involvements also include membership in Leadership Jackson, 100 Black Men of Jackson and Phi Kappa Delta Honorary Society. Lee holds a Ph.D. and a master's degree in educational administration from Miami University and a bachelor's degree in biology from Talladega College. He also received certification in educational management from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. A native of Brewton, Ala., Lee is married to the former Margie Ludgood. President and Mrs. Lee have one son, Joseph Martinique, and are the proud grandparents of Christian Joseph Lee and Kerrington Michael Lee.