Lester Lefton Lester Lefton - Kent State University
Lester Lefton Lester Lefton - Kent State University
Lester Lefton Lester Lefton - Kent State University
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Dr. <strong>Lester</strong> A. <strong>Lefton</strong> and his wife, Linda J. <strong>Lefton</strong> Photograph by B o b C h r i s t y, ‘ 9 5<br />
izing on innovative faculty<br />
research. I saw enormous,<br />
untapped potential in the<br />
form of a brilliant faculty,<br />
caring staff and talented<br />
students and alumni. Most<br />
of all, I saw an opportunity<br />
to make a positive<br />
difference for thousands<br />
of people and countless<br />
communities served by the<br />
university.<br />
KSM: Your experience<br />
includes a major role<br />
in rebuilding Tulane<br />
<strong>University</strong> in the aftermath<br />
of Hurricane<br />
Katrina. What lessons<br />
from that can you apply<br />
to your new role?<br />
LL: The experience of<br />
helping rebuild Tulane —<br />
virtually from “scratch” —<br />
left me with great clarity<br />
about the core values and<br />
processes that make a university,<br />
and with a heightened<br />
understanding of what<br />
higher education is all about.<br />
It affirmed how cohesively<br />
a faculty and an administration<br />
can work together to<br />
serve students. And it left no<br />
doubt about the most basic —<br />
and most important —<br />
building blocks of a university:<br />
its people.<br />
KSM: Everyone who<br />
helped New Orleans<br />
recover should be proud.<br />
Of what other accomplishments<br />
are you<br />
proud?<br />
LL: I am most proud of<br />
my family. My wife is a talented,<br />
smart, sensitive person<br />
who is my best friend.<br />
My two daughters have<br />
been a source of constant<br />
pride and delight. And not<br />
much can top the pride and<br />
joy I felt 16 weeks ago, when<br />
I held my new grandson.<br />
Professionally, I am<br />
proud of my introductory<br />
psychology textbook,<br />
which has helped<br />
educate thousands of<br />
students nationwide. It<br />
also is gratifying to have<br />
initiated and facilitated a<br />
number of leading-edge<br />
programs and curricular<br />
revisions at the <strong>University</strong><br />
p a g e