Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science Emile Lester is attracting media attention for his research on religion in schools. In January, he was a guest on the public radio program “With Good Reason,” as part of its “Intelligent Designs on Student Minds” series. Lester’s findings also have been documented in The New York Times, in USA Today, and on C-SPAN.?

An expert in church and state issues, Lester recently completed research to determine effects of the unique Modesto, Calif., public school requirement that all high school students take an extended course on world religions.?His report, co-authored by Patrick Roberts, an assistant professor at Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Administration and Policy, finds that students who take the world religion class are more supportive of the rights of others. He found that the course provides a fuller appreciation for shared moral values among world religions, yet does not encourage a change in the students’ own religious convictions.?

The results of Lester’s research were published by the First Amendment Center. Lester also has had works published in The Review of Politics, Polity, and The Journal of Church and State, among other journals. He has delivered numerous conference presentations and has served as reviewer of manuscripts for Political Theory and Journal of Politics.

Lester earned a bachelor’s degree in government from George Washington University, a master’s degree in political theory from the London School of Economics, and a doctorate in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia.