Tameka Lester was promoted to associate dean for Student Success & Strategic Enrollment Management at the College of Law in April 2022. As a dedicated member of the faculty, Lester continues to reinforce her reputation for supporting students and promoting a positive environment within the law school.
Prior to her new position, Lester was the interim associate dean for Student Affairs from August 2021 to May 2022. Her work with the College of Law began in July 2015 when she relocated to Atlanta from North Carolina and became the associate director of the College of Law’s Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic and an associate clinical professor.
She enjoyed her time as an associate professor, but now her responsibilities require a wider reach, and Lester is focused on improving the global student experience for everyone.
In her new position, Lester will continue to help others resolve administrative issues, but her focus has shifted to solely law students. “In this role, I have expanded the number of students I advise from 20+ students each semester to supporting the entire student body.”
Lester guides student organizations, helps students with accommodations and advises students on how to navigate academic, professional, and personal issues.
She also oversees academic advisement for the College of Law, bar success, and serves as the Enrollment & Admissions Office supervisor. Her “hope is to improve the overall student experience at every station,” by “ensuring [students] have the resources they need through academic and career support, and making sure they have the strategies, knowledge, and confidence to successfully pass the bar exam.”
This past summer Dean Lester led the College of Law’s #CrushtheBar campaign aimed at providing resources to law students preparing to take the bar exam. The campaign encourages test takers and spreads awareness about study sessions and other resources available for bar preparation at the law school. The campaign also included a six-week intensive bar writing course.
Partnering with the Center for Professional Development & Career Strategies (CPD) is also part of Dean Lester’s new responsibilities. Amy McCarthy, director of the CPD, expressed her excitement to continue collaborating with the associate dean.
“I am thrilled to be working with Dean Lester. She brings a fresh perspective to the role, having worked directly with students in the clinic setting for the last several years. I am confident that under her leadership, the CPD can continue providing excellent services and resources to COL students who are seeking internships or post-graduate positions. She has been very supportive of my team’s efforts since she took on this new role.”
by Alaina Vacante (J.D. ’24)