Emile Lester

Emile Lester is a Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Mary Washington. Specializing in political philosophy, religion and politics, and education policy, his scholarship focuses on integrating religious literacy into public education and analyzing ideological influences in curriculum design.

Research Interests: His work bridges political theory with practical applications in education, emphasizing democratic approaches to teaching religion in public schools and addressing biases in social studies materials. He has contributed to journals like The Review of Politics and Politics and Religion, as well as the Oxford Handbook on Religion and Education.

Scientific Achievements:

• Received the 2019–2021 Waple Professorship for excellence in teaching and research.
• Awarded a 2017–2019 research grant from the Religious Freedom Center at the Newseum.
• Held the 2010–2011 Jepson Fellowship for his work on political thought.

Public Engagement: As a Special Consultant for the Texas Freedom Network and Religious Freedom Center, he has testified before the Texas State Board of Education and influenced revisions to textbooks addressing religious and racial diversity. His research has been featured in major media outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post, and NPR.