Lee is highly educated. After earning her B.A. degree in English from Atlantic Union College, she received an M.A. in English fromAndrews University before obtaining her P.HD in English from The Ohio State University in 1991.

By IKE MGBATOGU

Contributing Writer

COLUMBUS – As Joyce Beatty moved one step closer to being a member of the U.S. House of Representatives with her victory last week in the Democratic primary race for the 3rd Congressional District, Valerie Lee is settling in as her replacement at The Ohio State University where she worked before recently stepping down to run for the 3rd Congressional District.

“Dr. Lee is absolutely the ideal person to help this university broaden its land grant mission to improve and enrich communities. In assuming this new role, she will extend and build upon the crucial work begun by Joyce Beatty,” said E. Gordon Gee, President of The Ohio University, in a statement announcing her appointment.

Lee, who is currently with the university as Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion since 2010 and Chief Diversity Officer, will now serve in an expanded role as Vice President for Outreach and Engagement.

Lee was making $254,746, but expects to make more in her new position.

Beatty’s salary was $326,000.

Lee’s appointment is with immediate effect, said Gee, who praised her for exemplary work as university leader.

That exemplary work spanned a period of 21 years during which Lee served the university in various capacities including as an award winning faculty member, department chair and administrative staff.

Lee’s resume includes serving as chair of the university’s Women Department from 2000 to 2002 before being elected to serve in the same capacity for the Department of English. In 2006, her work earned her the university’s faculty award for Distinguished University Service.

She also received the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, which is the university’s highest teaching award. Other honors include awards from the College Fund, the NAACP and the Columbus YWCA Women Achievement.

In addition to her role as vice provost, where she manages a staff of 80 engaged in community outreach, Lee also directs the affairs of the Todd A. Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male as well as the Frank W. Hale, Jr., Black Cultural Center.

As a professor of English, Lee is vastly knowledge in the areas of 20th Century literature, African American literature and theory, critical race studies, multicultural pedagogy, higher educational administration, and outreach, all of which are subjects that have featured in her wide panoply of publications.

Lee is highly educated. After earning her B.A. degree in English from Atlantic Union College, she received an M.A. in English from Andrews University before obtaining her P.HD in English from The Ohio State University in 1991.

Mgbatogu is a freelance writer and editor of Onumba.com based in Columbus. He can be reached by email at Onumbamedia@yahoo.com