Then and now: celebrating Professor Echols' 59 years at Lee
Evaline Echols (Photo: Lee University)
Professor of Business Education Evaline Echols was recently honored with Emeritus Status for her hard work and commitment to Lee University since 1957.
It all began with a 300-student populated campus where Echols was hired as the administrative assistant to the president in 1957. While working, she attended Lee as a part-time student to earn her bachelors degree in business. Post graduation, she was hired as the administrative assistant to the president of Lee from 1957 to 1984. Echols then moved to chair of the business department where she served for 20 years.
'Ever since I was a young girl I wanted to be a teacher and it took me a while, but I finally made it in 2004,' Echols said.
After another 12 years at Lee educating and impacting the lives of aspiring business professionals, Echols announced her retirement as a full time professor following this spring semester with a smile on her face and a full heart.
'Lee University has had a great impact [on] my life not only academically, but also spiritually. It has given me constant motivation for improvement and shaped me into the person I am today,' Echols said.
Not only has Lee been a career path for Echols, but also the foundation of her calling to share the love of God.
'My motivation to wake up and teach every day was in hopes of making a difference in the lives of the students. I wanted my students to know that I took interest in them and wanted to impact their lives spiritually through a daily devotional,' Echols said.
Echols described her journey with Lee as an overall enriching experience with high hopes for what is to come.
'I feel so encouraged about the future because of what I sense in these students today. Their dedication to Christ and their motivation to higher education under the leadership of Lee and its faculty is a level of excellence that not all universities have,' Echols said.