Donor Spotlight: Mary and Jim Lester

College of Education Donor Support Spotlight

Mary and Jim Lester

New Education Building Room name:

Mary Neill Lester Seminar Room

Named after: Mary Neill Lester

Their story:

Mary Neill Lester and her husband, James “Jim” Ellis Lester, are proud graduates of Auburn University, with Mary receiving her Master of Education degree in Secondary Social Science Education in 1971 and Jim receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1973 and his Master of Science degree in Economics in 1975. Mary grew up in Newnan, Georgia, and Atlantic Beach, Florida. She also received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia, in 1970 and taught in the school systems of Thomaston, Georgia, and Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Jim worked in technology sales for Barrister Information Systems in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1977. He completed an Executive Master of Business Administration degree at Georgia State University in 1996 and then joined Alta Vista, the first major internet search engine, before shifting to real estate in 2002. Jim and Mary established the James Ellis Lester and Mary Neill Lester Alumni Endowed Scholarship in 2015 to support a student pursuing a degree in Teacher Education. The Lesters, along with their children, Melissa and Neill, exemplify the Auburn Creed, professionally and personally, and “believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.”

Tell us the “why” behind your decision to name a room in the College of Education’s new building:

My husband, Jim, and I both have a love for education in all of its forms.  Since my degree from Auburn is a Master of Education, we had already endowed a scholarship and were thrilled to see the new College of Ed building come to life.  We joked about being able to fund a broom closet, but settled on a seminar room, which is multi-purpose and practical.  I was very happy when (College of Education Director of Development) Molly (McNulty) said that it's already seen a lot of use!

What excites you most about the College of Education’s new building?

The new building is just beautiful, inside and outside.  It will certainly make the College of Ed more visible and prestigious.  I hope it will attract many bright, dedicated students to Auburn.

There’s so much to love about Auburn and its College of Education. What do you love most?

One of the best things about Auburn and its College of Ed is the wonderful people. We have been invited to so many nice events and met so many interesting people over the years.  And we love mixing and mingling with the students.

What do you hope future generations will know about you/your family and the importance of the room that bears your family’s namesake?

I would like for future generations to realize that universities don't just appear without a lot of hard work and sacrifice on the part of students, alums and employees.  I also want them to know what a joy it is to give back to the institutions that make our lives possible.