Bachelor of Science: Florida International University, Miami, FL (Criminal Justice, 1987) Master of Science: Florida International University, Miami, FL (Criminal Justice, 1993) Doctorate of Philosophy: Union Institute & University, Cincinnati, OH (Educational Leadership, 2006) Expertise BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR/CONSULTING/ACADEMIC RESEARCH Accomplishments President/CEO, Invest In Our Children, Inc., Miami, FL Formed for-profit company Formed non-profit company United Parcel Service East Region Nominee for 2011 Jim Casey Community Service Award Websites www.investinourchildren.com Professional  Affiliations American Educational Research Association, Member Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Member Brief History Dr.  Nathaniel Lester, Sr. is the President/CEO and founder of Invest In Our Children, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which provides tutoring, mentoring, and counseling services, and teaches financial literacy to students in grades K – 12.   He has a great deal of knowledge and experience working with students in grades K – 12 and he is certified as a substitute teacher in the Miami Dade County Public School system, which is the fourth largest school district in the country.  In addition, Dr. Lester was an Adjunct Professor and Clinical Lab Instructor at Florida International University, College of Education, in Miami, Florida.  He assisted the Associate Dean for the College of Education and he has taught courses in Education, as well as certification classes for teachers.   Dr. Lester also works at United Parcel Service (UPS) in Miami, Florida.   Dr. Lester’s education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice, and a Ph.D.  in Educational Leadership.   For many years Dr. Lester has helped thousands of children and also volunteered a great deal of his time to community service activities, such as Boy Scouts of America, coaching in various basketball leagues for the YMCA, Nike/Heat League, and other organizations.  He has also worked with students at various schools in Miami-Dade County, and he has conducted workshops on violence reduction, conflict resolution, and other topics for students and their parents.  In addition, he has provided counseling services to children in the State of Florida Department of Juvenile Justice system, the Dade County Juvenile Halfway House, and inmates in the Broward County Women’s Correctional Institute.   Dr. Lester also teaches bible classes for the junior/senior high school students and works with the youth at the Pembroke Park Church of Christ where he attends. Dr. Lester and his wife, LaWanda, have one son, Nathaniel, Jr., who is married to Kendra Lester.   They are also very involved in numerous activities in their community.