News

Dr. William “Bill” Estes, professor of education, has been named dean of the Lee University Helen DeVos College of Education.

“Dr. Estes has the skill and drive to lead the HDCOE to greater excellence and recognition than ever before,” said Dr. Debbie Murray, vice president of Lee’s Academic Affairs. “I am excited about the future of our teacher education programs.”

Estes came to Lee in 1998 as an assistant professor of education and has served as chair of the Department of Health, Exercise Science & Secondary Education since 2004.

Prior to coming to Lee, Estes served as a principal, an assistant principal, and a classroom teacher over nine years in Little Rock, Ark., and Chapel Hill, N.C. While at the University of North Carolina, Estes worked as a Paideia Seminar Trainer, a teaching assistant, a research assistant, and a Carolina Teaching Fellows program assistant.

Locally Estes is a member of Cleveland’s City Council and serves on the boards of United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and the Museum at Five Points. Estes is a committee member of the Greenway Advisory Board and served on the State Task Force for Minority Teacher Recruitment and Retention during the Bredesen administration.

 In his new position, Estes replaces Murray.

“I am so fortunate to have spent the last 15 years of my professional life working with incredibly talented people,” said Estes. “I’m excited about this new opportunity, and I’m excited about where both Lee University and the DeVos College of Education are heading in the near future.”

For more information about the Helen DeVos College of Education, please contact 423-614-8175.