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Neal Lester

Profile photo
English
Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 1401
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Instructor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 1401
Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions
Instructor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 1401
Project Humanities
SUM/WTR Faculty Other
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 1401
Sustainability Scientists and Scholars
Senior Sustainability Scholar
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 1401
Biography

Neal Lester has been a professor of English at Arizona State University since the fall 1997. His area of specialization is African American literary and cultural studies. Lester earned his bachelor's in English from State University of West Georgia and his master's and doctorate in English at Vanderbilt University. He has published on and taught courses in African American children's literature, African American drama, African American folklore, African American images in American cinema, and black/ white interracial intimacies in American culture.

The author of "Ntozake Shange: A Critical Study of the Plays" (1995) and "Understanding Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents" (1999), Professor Lester has also published, lectured, and taught extensively in the area of African American children's literature. He has published on personal ads as African American biography and autobiography; black masculinities; African American homoeroticism; neo-slave narratives; parental (il)literacy in children's literature; the absence of the word "nigger" in contemporary African American children's texts; African American female sexuality; interracial intimacies in American popular music; African American womanist theory; Disney's first African American princess in "The Princess and the Frog;" Helen Bannerman's Little Black Sambo as an anti-trickster; and the gender and race politics of African Americans and hair. His study of heteronormativity in children's texts appears in the summer 2007 issue of the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education: An International Quarterly Devoted to Research, Policy and Practice (volume 4, number 2, pages 55-74).  His third book, "Once Upon a Time in a Different World: Issues and Ideas in African American Children’s Literature" (2007), is a collection of Lester's published and new essays in children's literature with scholars, critics, and lay persons responding each to a different essay and creating a threaded conversation about identity, gender, sexuality and race. This collection is part of the “Children’s Literature and Culture” Series. He has also completed a co-edited collection of essays on the intersection of race, gender and sexuality in personal ads, "Racialized Politics of Desire in Personal Ads" (Rowman and Littlefield/ Lexington Books, 2008). His co-edited volume "Sapphire's Literary Breakthrough: Feminist Pedagogies, Erotic Literacies, Environmental Justice Perspectives" was published by Palgrave in 2012.

A popular public speaker and discussion facilitator, Professor Lester has an extensive record of publications, lectures, editorships, and public interviews. Over the course of his 20-year professional career, Lester has received numerous teaching awards and recognitions, including Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award (1993), Distinguished Teaching Fellow Award (1996), and "Distinguished Finalist" for the Professor of the Year (2001). In 2001, Lester was named "Distinguished Public Scholar" by the Arizona Humanities Council, for his work both inside and outside the classroom. Lester was a recipient of the "Last Lecture" Award (2002), the Arizona State University Parents Association Professor of the Year (2003), the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Distinguished Professorship (2004), and Foundation Professorship (2007). Lester served a two-year term as chair of the Board of Directors for the Arizona Humanities Council and served as dean of Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences from August 2010 through February 2012. In 2011, Lester was elected to the Executive Committee of the Association of Departments of English (ADE), an affiliate of the Modern Language Association of America and has served as associate vice president for humanities and arts in the Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development, where his role was to promote and integrate humanities research throughout the university; an extension of the university-wide Project Humanities initiative he began in August 2010 and continues to direct.

Education
  • Ph.D. English, Vanderbilt University
  • M.A. English, Vanderbilt University
  • B.A. English, University of West Georgia (Valedictorian)
Research Interests

African American literature and cultural studies; African American women writers; African American children's literature; African American popular culture

Publications
  • . . Racialized Politics of Desire in Personal Ads (2008).
  • Lester, Neal, Steward, Doug. Academic Freedom in English Courses in English Classrooms and in English Departments. (2007).
  • Lester, Neal Andre, Shange, Ntozake. For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf. A Gift of Story and Song An Encyclopedia on Twentieth Century African American Writers (2006).
  • Lester, Neal Andre, Weaver, Leslie J. Study Guide for Mark Spragg's an Unfinished Life. Humanities Scholar (2006).
  • Neal Lester. Unhappily Ever After Fairy Tale Morals Moralities and Heterosexism in Children's Texts. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education An International Quarterly Devoted to Research Policy and Practice (2006).
  • Lester, Neal Andre (Author) . Of Wigs and Weaves Locks and Fades A Personal Political Hair Story. Blackberries and Redbones Critical Articulations of Black Hair Body Politics in Africana Communities (2006).
  • Lester, Neal, Steward, Doug. Academic Freedom in English Courses in English Classrooms and in English Departments. (2006).
  • Lester, Neal Andre, Nugent, Richard Bruce. Smoke, Lilies, and Jade. A Gift of Story and Song An Encyclopedia on Twentieth Century African American Writers (2005).
  • Neal Lester, Maureen Daly Goggin. In Living Color Politics of Desire in Heterosexual Interracial Black White Personal Ads. Communication and Critical Cultural Studies (2005).
  • . . Review of: Doormat (2005).
  • . . Review of: Film version 1974 of Ernest Gaine's Novel The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (2005).
  • . . Review of: Teacher's Guide to the Bluford Book Series (2005).
  • . . Review of: Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males Closing the Achievement Gap (2005).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Of Wigs and Weaves Locks and Fades A Personal Political Hair Story. Blackberries and Redbones Critical Articulations of Black Hair Body Politics in Africana Communities (2005).
  • Lester, Neal Andre, Daly Goggin, Maureen. In Living Color Politics of Desire in Heterosexual Interracial Black White Personal Ads. Communication and Critical Cultural Studies (2005).
  • Lester, Neal Andre, Samuels, Wilfred D. Smoke Lilies and Jade by Richard Bruce Nugent. A Gift of Story and Song An Encyclopedia on Twentieth Century African American Writers (2005).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Study Guide for Mark Spragg's An Unfinished Life. Humanities Scholar (2004).
  • . . Review of: The Last Part First (2004).
  • Lester, Neal Andre (Author) . Seasoned with Quiet Strength Black Womanhood in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun. Women in Literature Reading through the Lens of Gender (2004).
  • Lester, Neal. Do You See What I See Do You Hear What I Hear Becoming Better Adults through Toni Morrison's The Big Box and the Book of Mean People. (2004).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Review of Angela Johnson's The Last Part First. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (2004).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Review of Teacher's Guide for the Bluford Series. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (2004).
  • Neal Lester. Hair Today Yesterday and Beyond A Personal Historical and Political Journey. Hair Stories (2003).
  • Neal Lester. Life for Me ain't Been No Crystal Stair Readin' Writin and Parental Illiteracy in African American Children's Books. Arizona Reading Journal (2003).
  • Neal Lester. Life for Me ain't Been No Crystal Stair' Readin' Writin' and Parental Illiteracy in African American Children's Books. Children's Folklore Review (2003).
  • . . Review of: Lost and Found (2003).
  • . . Review of: The Last Part First (2003).
  • . . Review of: Until We Meet Again (2003).
  • Lester, Neal. What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up Heterosexual Coercion in Children's Texts. (2003).
  • Lester, Neal, Goggin, Maureen. Color Blind Circulating Perpetuating and Personifying Black White Hetero Sexual Myths in Personal Ads Rhetorics and Literacies Past Present Future. (2003).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Hair Today Yesterday and Beyond A Personal Historical and Political Journey. Hair Stories (2003).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Life for Me Ain't Been No Crystal Stair Readin Writin and Parental Illiteracy in African American Children's Books. Arizona Reading Journal (2003).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Life for Me Ain't Been No Crystal Stair Readin Writin and Parental Illiteracy in African American Children's Books. Children's Literature Review (2003).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Review of Anne Schraff's Lost and Found. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (2003).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Review of Anne Schraff's Until We Meet Again. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (2003).
  • Lester, Neal Andre, Silber, Ellen, Fisher, Jerrilyn. Seasoned with Quiet Strength Black Womanhood in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun. Women in Literature Reading through the Lens of Gender (2003).
  • Neal Lester. Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones Airbrushing the Ugliest of Ugly in African American Children's Books. Obsidian III Literature in the African Diaspora (2002).
  • . . Review of: A Matter of Trust (2002).
  • . . Review of: Crowning Glory Poems (2002).
  • . . Review of: Standing on the Hyphen with Dr Olga I Davis (2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Unhappily Ever after Fairy Tale Morals and Moralities in Randall Kenan's Run Mourner Run. (2002).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Performance Review of Standing on the Hyphen with Dr Olga I Davis. Legacy (2002).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Review of Anne Schraff's A Matter of Trust. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (2002).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Review of Joyce Carol Thomas's Crowning Glory Poems. QBR The Black Book Review (2002).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones Airbrushing the Ugliest of Ugly in African American Children's Books. Obsidian III Literature in the African Diaspora (2002).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Beyond Bitches and Hoes Sexual Violence Violent Sex and Sexual Fantasy as Black Masculinist Performance in Richard Wright's The Man Who Killed a Shadow. Richard Wright Newsletter (2001).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Black White Interracial Intimacies in Popular Music. Interracial Voice (2001).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Moistening the Desert Landscape An African American in Arizona. Legacy (2001).
  • Neal Lester. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African American Daughters and the Politics of Hair. The Lion and The Unicorn A Critical Journal of Children's Literature (2000).
  • Lester, Neal. African American Culture Racializing the Images of Black People. (2000).
  • Lester, Neal. Beyond Bitches and Hoes Sexual Violence Violent Sex and Sexual Fantasy as Black Masculinist Performance in Richard Wright's The Man Who Killed a Shadow. (2000).
  • Lester, Neal. In Living Color Black White Hetero Sexual Myths Perpetuated Personified and Personalized in the Personals. (2000).
  • Lester, Neal. Life for Me ain't Been No Crystal Stair Readin' Writin' and Illiteracy in African American Children's Books. (2000).
  • Lester, Neal. Life for Me ain't Been No Crystal Stair' Readin' Writin' and Illiteracy in African American Children's Books. (2000).
  • Lester, Neal. Once Upon a Time in a Different World Conflicts and Celebrations in African American Children's Literature. (2000).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Ceremonies in Dark Old Men. The Oxford Companion to African American Literature (1997).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Hair. The Oxford Companion to African American Literature (1997).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Ntozake Shange. The Oxford Companion to Women's Writing in the United States (1995).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. Ntozake Shange. Reference Guide to American Literature (1994).
  • Lester, Neal Andre. The Harlem Renaissance A Literary and Cultural Glance. In Migrations A Family's Story A People's History (1994).
Research Activity
Fall 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
ENG 353Af/Am Lit: Begin-Harlem Renais
Spring 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
ENG 102First-Year Composition
Fall 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
ENG 242Literature of US Post 1860
Spring 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
ENG 353Af/Am Lit: Begin-Harlem Renais
Fall 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
ENG 242Literature of US Post 1860
Spring 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
ENG 459Studies African Amer/Carib Lit
AFR 459Studies African Amer/Carib Lit
Fall 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
AFR 354African Amer Lit:Harlem/Presen
ENG 354Af/Am Lit: Harlem Renais-Pres
MAS 585Capstone Course
Spring 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
ENG 459Studies African Amer/Carib Lit
ENG 590Reading and Conference
Fall 2015
Course NumberCourse Title
ENG 353Af/Am Lit: Begin-Harlem Renais
AFR 353African Amer Lit:Harlem Renais
Spring 2015
Course NumberCourse Title
ENG 200Critical Reading & Writing/Lit
Presentations
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks The Race and Gender Politics of Hair. Addressing Junior and Senior English Classes (Jan 2007).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. University Studies Lecture Series (Nov 2006).
  • Lester, Neal. Don't Talk about My Mama The Dozens as African American Talkin' and Testifyin. Cathleen Lewis Exhibition (Nov 2006).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Arizona English Teachers Association Conference (Oct 2006).
  • Lester, Neal, McNeil, Elizabeth. Paul Haggis's Crash. Films that Talk and Testify Department of English and CoCurricular Programs (Feb 2006).
  • Lester, Neal. Suzan Lori Parks's Venus. The Venus Project African Diaspora Performance and African American Theatre (Feb 2006).
  • Lester, Neal, Scarberry Garcia, Susan. Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God Self Identity and Storytelling Rituals. English 353 African American Literature I Beginning through Harlem Renaissance (Nov 2005).
  • Lester, Neal, McNeil, Elizabeth. Terry George's Hotel Rwanda Films that Talk and Testify. Department of English and Co Curricular Programs (Oct 2005).
  • Lester, Neal, Anderson, Maria. Find Your Places in the Sun Accessing Resources for Faculty of Color at Arizona State University. Inaugural Diversity in Higher Education Lecture Workshop Series Co Sponsored by REFOCUS (Aug 2005).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. HairStories Exhibition Lecture (Jul 2005).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Maricopa College Writing Project (Jun 2005).
  • Lester, Neal. Once Upon a Time in a Different World Conflict Controversy and Celebration in African American Children's Literature. Maricopa College Writing Project (Jun 2005).
  • Lester, Neal, Moss, Glenda. Nappy Hair and Critical Literacy. DCI 598 Strategies III Best Literacy Practices (Jun 2005).
  • Lester, Neal. Talkin' and Testifyin' African Americans Storytelling and Self Creation. Black Family Genealogy and History Society (Jun 2005).
  • Lester, Neal. Once Upon a Time in a Different World: Conflict Controversy and Celebration in African American Children's Literature. Year Three Students (May 2005).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Year Four Students (May 2005).
  • Lester, Neal, Dugan, Jeanne. African Americans and the Race and Gender Politics of Hair. English 217 Writing Reflective Essays (Apr 2005).
  • Lester, Neal, Baker, Aaron, Reyes, Angelita. Oprah Winfrey Presents. Telefilm of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, short feature (Mar 2005).
  • Lester, Neal, Hastings, Rachel, Johnson, Javon, Thompson, Ayanna, Madison, D. Performing Race Performing Spoken Word. Black History Month Celebration (Feb 2005).
  • Lester, Neal. Talkin' and Testifyin' African Americans Storytelling and Self Creation. Last Word Lecture Series (Feb 2005).
  • Lester, Neal. Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 911. Films that Talk and Testify Department of English and Co Curricular Programs (Nov 2004).
  • Lester, Neal, Davenport, Pamela. Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God: Self-Identity and Storytelling Rituals. First Year Composition and Introduction to Literature (Nov 2004).
  • Lester, Neal. Once Upon a Time in a Different World Conflict Controversy and Celebration in African American Children's Literature. First Thursday's Lecture Series (Oct 2004).
  • Lester, Neal. Evaluating Progress toward Tenure and Promotion at all Levels and Moving toward Target Salaries. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Chair Orientation (Sep 2004).
  • Lester, Neal, Alcott, Maya, Michno, Mandy. African Americans and the Race and Gender Politics of Hair. Grades 7 and 8 Visual Arts and Language Arts (Sep 2004).
  • Lester, Neal. Do You See What I See Do You Hear What I hear Becoming Better Adults through Toni Morrison's The Big Box and The Book of Mean People. American Literature Association Conference (May 2004).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Arizona Board of Regents (Apr 2004).
  • Lester, Neal, McNeil, Elizabeth. Phillip Noyce's Rabbit Proof Fence. Films that Talk and Testify Department of English and Co Curricular Programs (Apr 2004).
  • Lester, Neal. Talkin' and Testifyin' African Americans Storytelling and Self Creation. Black History Month Brown Bag Discussion (Feb 2004).
  • Lester, Neal. Talkin' and Testifyin' African Americans Storytelling and Self Creation. Black History Month Celebration (Feb 2004).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Hair Stories ARTiculations Lectures (Dec 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Do You See What I See Do You Hear What I Hear Becoming Better Adults through Toni Morrison's Books for Children. Many Cultures Many Readers Many Books Arizona Reading Association Conference (Nov 2003).
  • Lester, Neal, Johnson, Charles, Hemphill, David. The Politics of Black Humor in Literature Arts and Popular Culture. Barrett Honors College Centennial Lecture Series (Nov 2003).
  • Lester, Neal, McNeil, Elizabeth. Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Films that Talk and Testify Department of English and Co Curricular Programs (Nov 2003).
  • Lester, Neal, Whitaker, Matthew. Spike Lee's Bamboozled. Young Democratic Socialists Movie Night (Nov 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Moistening the Desert Landscape An African American in Arizona. American Indian Programs and Events (Oct 2003).
  • Lester, Neal, Blasingame, Jim. Controversies in African American Children's Literature An Example of Carolivia Herron's Nappy Hair. English 482 Methods of Teaching Language (Oct 2003).
  • Lester, Neal, Daly Goggin, Maureen. Color Blind Circulating Perpetuating and Personifying BlackWhite Hetero Sexual Myths in Personal Ads Rhetorics and LiteraciesPast Present Future. The Western States Rhetoric and Literacy Conference (Oct 2003).
  • Lester, Neal, Roedel, Ron, Nelson, Peggy. Strategies for Effective Teaching. Preparing Future Faculty Seminar (Sep 2003).
  • Lester, Neal, Bawolek, S, Ahrens, J. All in the Same Boat The Writing Process and Product. Presentation for Ms S Bawolek and Ms J Ahrens's Sixth and Seventh Graders (Sep 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Reaching for the Stars through Literacy (Jun 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Do You See What I See Do You Hear What I Hear Becoming Better Adults through Toni Morrison's Children's Books. Reaching for the Stars through Literacy (Jun 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Let's Give 'Em Somethin' to Talk about African American Self Creation through Talkin' and Testifyin'. Soaring into Literacy (Jun 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Defining Success and Definitions of Successful How to Succeed in College. Making the Grade Freshman Orientation Advisement and Registration Programs (Jun 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Research as Intersection of Personal and Political of Political and Professional. Department of English Staff Retreat (May 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Arizona State University History Stage Arizona University Authors. Arizona Book Festival (Apr 2003).
  • Lester, Neal, Lacayo Salas, Damys. African Americans and the Race and Gender Politics of Hair. CCS 210 Introduction to Ethnic Studies (Mar 2003).
  • Lester, Neal, Whitaker, Matthew. Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God Self-Identity and Storytelling Rituals. History 334 African American History Since 1865 (Feb 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Carlyle Brown's The African Company Presents Richard III. (Feb 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Children's Books The Personal as Political. (Jan 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Demonstrating the Dream through Service. Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service ASU Community Service Program (Jan 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. African American Children's Literature in the Elementary School Classroom. Service Learning Internship Training (Jan 2003).
  • Lester, Neal. Reading & Teaching African American Children's Literature Conflicts Controversies Celebration. Paradise Valley Reading Council (Nov 2002).
  • Lester, Neal, Whitaker, Matthew. Spike Lee's Bamboozled. Community Film Forum (Nov 2002).
  • Lester, Neal, Blasingame, Jim. Controversies in African American Children's Literature An Example of Carolivia Herron's Nappy Hair. English 482 Methods of Teaching Language (Oct 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. The Absence of Nigger in African American Children's Literature. Inaugural Spoken Word Open Mic Performance and Reading (Sep 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Teaching African American Literature Using the World as a Textbook. World Literature Program Summer Faculty Seminar Department of English (Aug 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. African American Visions and Voices An Example of Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. World Literature Program Summer Faculty Seminar (Aug 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Reading Writing and Critical Literacy An Example of African American Children's Texts. Soaring into Literacy (Jun 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Struggling toward Luxury An African American in American Higher Education. StarLite Speaker Series (Apr 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Toni Morrison's Beloved. Christian Drama Guild (Apr 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Let's Give 'Em Somethin' to Talk about' African American Self Creation Self Preservation and Community through Talkin' and Testifyin. Last Lecture Award Co Curricular Programs (Apr 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Thursday Lunch Talks (Mar 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Christian Drama Guild (Mar 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Unhappily Ever After Fairy Tale Morals and Moralities in Randall Kenan's Run Mourner Run. American Culture Popular Culture Association Conference (Mar 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Where Do I Go for Information. Arizona Convocation Arizona State Library Archives and Public Records (Mar 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. To Langston with Love. A Langston Hughes Centennial Celebration (Feb 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Black History Program (Feb 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Omega Academy Arizona IMPACT Afterschool Program (Feb 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Spirit of the Senses (Jan 2002).
  • Lester, Neal. Children's Books The Personal as Political. (Jan 2002).
  • Lester, Neal, Winkelman, Michael. African Americans at the Turn of the Century. Undergraduate Course Ethnic Relations in the US (Nov 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. Mentoring New Faculty. (Oct 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. ASU Family Weekend (Oct 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Greater Paradise Valley Reading Council (Sep 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. Teaching African American Literature in the Secondary School. Contemporary Voices An Enrichment Series on Multicultural Perspectives (Sep 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. Talkin' and Testifyin' Zora Neale Hurston and the African American Oral Tradition. (Aug 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. Introduction to Teaching Life at ASU. New Faculty and Academic Professionals Orientation (Aug 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. African American Culture Literary Perspectives. National Endowment for the Humanities Teacher Institute School for the Millennium Grant Program (Aug 2001).
  • Lester, Neal, Linch, Fred. Spike Lee's Banboozled. Movie TuesdaysA Film Discusson Series with Fred Linch Valley Film Buff (Jun 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Out to Lunch and into the Arts Lecture Series (Mar 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. James Weldon Johnson's God's Trombones Seven Sermons in Verse. Black Theater Troupe (Feb 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. Eyes Wide Shut Addressing Race Relations in the 21st Century by Undressing Racism. Black History Celebration (Feb 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. Second Annual Celebration of African American Authors Steven Barnes Robert O Greer Mars Hill Sandra Kitt Jacquese Council Silvas and Jordana Shakoor. (Feb 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. Children's Books The Personal as Political. (Jan 2001).
  • Lester, Neal. Talkin' and Testifyin' Zora Neale Hurston and the African American Oral Tradition. Rio Institute for Senior Education (Nov 2000).
  • Lester, Neal. African American Blues as the Way We Were and the Way We Are. Smithsonian Institute's Jazz in Paris Lecture Series (Nov 2000).
  • Lester, Neal. Book Talk Understanding Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God A Student Casebook to Issues Sources and Historical Documents. African American Awareness Celebration (Feb 2000).
  • Lester, Neal, Nilsen, Don. Don't Talk about My Mama The Dozens as African American Talkin' and Testifyin. English 414 Linguistic Humor and Language Play
  • Lester, Neal, Robinson, Jeanett. What I Do is Who I Am My Experience as an African American Academic. African American History Community Class
  • Lester, Neal. Arizona Humanities Speakers Bureau.
  • Lester, Neal. What's Negotiable Negotiating a Job Offer. English 606 Advanced Studies in English Education
  • Lester, Neal, Boyer, Jay. Toni Morrison's Beloved A Story about Stories and Storytelling. English 447 Studies in Postmodernism
  • Lester, Neal, Dellacona, Richard. Economics for Success. Junior Achievement Worldwide Program EighthGrade Social Studies Class
  • Lester, Neal, Goggin, Maureen, Tobin, Beth. My Colored Museum The Personal the Political and the Professional. English 640 Material Culture
  • Lester, Neal, Lehman, Peter. Sexual Violence and Violent Sex as Black Masculinist Performance in Hip Hop and Richard Wright. Film & Media Studies 460 Humanities 598 Masculinity in Film
  • Lester, Neal, Ricker, Lisa. My Colored Museum The Personal the Political and the Professional. English 216 Persuasive Writing
  • Lester, Neal, Blasingame, Jim. Controversies in African American Children's Literature An Example of Carolivia Herron's Nappy Hair. English 471 Literature for Adolescents
  • Lester, Neal, Davis, Olga. Politics of Desire in Black White Interracial Personals. Communication 691 Black Sexuality and Ritual Performance
  • Lester, Neal. What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up Heterosexual Coercion in Children's Texts. Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities
  • Lester, Neal. Carlyle Brown's The African Company Present Richard III. Black Theater Troupe
  • Lester, Neal, Kates, Lisa. Black Awareness in African American Children's Books. Lisa Kates's Second Grade Class African American Awareness Celebration
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Scottsdale AZ Voices Strengthening the Quality of Community Dialogue
  • Lester, Neal. Rappin' about Reading It's a Family Affair. Pima College Adult Education Family Literacy Project Mentor Training Program
  • Lester, Neal. Talkin' and Testifyin' Zora Neale Hurston and the African American Oral Tradition. Phoenix Public Library Thursday Lunch Talks
  • Lester, Neal, Abajooh Layoye, G. African American Experience in the 21st Century. English 497 Cultural Identities
  • Lester, Neal. Nappy Edges and Goldy Locks African Americans and the Politics of Hair. Center for Learning and Teaching Excellence
Honors / Awards
  • 2007 ASU Foundation Professor
  • 2004 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Distinguished Professorship 
  • 2003 Parents Association Professor of Year
  • 2002 "Last Lecture" Award (ASU)
  • 2001 Distinguished Public Scholar, Arizona Humanities Council
  • 2001 "Distinguished Finalist" for the Professor of the Year 
  • 1996 Distinguished Teaching Fellow Award
  • 1993 Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award 
  • David Bottoms Distinguished Alumni Award, Department of English, The University of West Georgia
  • Alumni Achievement Award, College of Arts and Humanities, The University of West Georgia
Expertise Areas
African American Studies
Cultural Studies