Lester Strong is Vice President of External Affairs and Experience Corps, a program of the AARP Foundation which tutors and mentors elementary school children (K-3) who struggle with reading by utilizing the skills and experiences of adults 50+. Experience Corps serves 32,000 students in 23 cities across the United States through a program recognized as the one of the most effective in-school interventions in the country.

Prior to his service at Experience Corps, Lester served as a leader in educational entrepreneurship and development. He was the Chief Development Officer for the BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life) Foundation, which also provides tutoring and mentoring services to underserved children in multiple cities.

A long-time proponent and practitioner of meditation, Lester was CEO of the SYDA Foundation, an educational organization that provides instruction in yoga and meditation in 46 countries. He spent 25 years in the television industry as an executive producer, reporter and anchor in Charlotte (WBTV), Atlanta (WSB), New York (ABC Entertainment) and Boston (WHDH). His work earned him a host of national and regional awards, including five regional Emmy Awards and a White House commendation from President Ronald Reagan.

Lester serves as chairman of the board of Editorial Projects in Education (Education Week) and sits on the boards of Encore.org and YouthBuild USA. He also serves on the advisory councils of the Presidio Institute and America’s Promise Alliance. Lester holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature/Education from Davidson College and is a graduate of the Columbia Business School’s Institute for Non-Profit Management.