Jerome Hammond

Vision Statement Lee University is at a pivotal moment, needing to honor a rich heritage while stepping boldly into the future. The past three decades have been an exciting and successful prelude, potentially positioning Lee for its greatest era of growth and impact. To realize its full potential, Lee University must renew its century-old commitment to integrate faith, academic excellence, and institutional vision in a unified pursuit of its mission. It is the solemn responsibility of a president to balance tradition and transformation. My leadership will be focused on uniting Lee’s constituencies in that effort. Students, faculty, alumni, donors, community and denominational partners all must be led a shared purpose. I will work to strengthen Lee’s foundation while guiding it toward new opportunities that safeguard its long-term impact and success.

• Ordained Minister in the Church of God
• Active Member of Westmore Church of God
• Regular Participant in the Church of God General Assembly, engaging in policy discussions.
• Frequent Speaker at Lee University Chapel (15+ years) and at churches across the Southeast.
• Erlanger Pediatric Foundation, Bradley County Public Education Foundation (Legacy Committee), Bradley Medical Center Foundation

• Success – Process must serve results, not the other way around.
• Collaboration – Bringing the best talent together, flattening hierarchy when necessary.
• Truth & Integrity – Honesty and transparency are non-negotiable; deception erodes trust.
• Inspiration – Leaders must provide motivation through work ethic, integrity, speech, or storytelling.
• Restless Drive for Excellence – A leader must continually push for better systems, better people, and better results.
• Appetite for Work – Leadership requires an innate energy for the work itself—meeting challenges with enthusiasm.

• Played a critical role in all capital campaigns (01/01/03–01/01/20), focusing on developing donors and strengthening institutional finances.
• Specialized in donor pipeline development, guiding donors from entry-level giving to significant commitments ($25K–$100K+).
• Built strategic donor relationships, transitioning annual donors into long-term contributors to Lee’s financial growth.

• Reflections: The 75-Year Story of the Church of God Home for Children, 01/01/04, Dr. Gary Riggins
• Insider Magazine, Founder and Editor, Providing in-depth narratives about Lee University’s history, culture, and alumni impact.

• Harvard Leadership Development Program, 01/01/03
• TICUA Executive Leadership Development Program
• Tennessee State Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator
• Member of the Church of God and active in denominational governance

Founder & Principal, HJH and Associates, Executive Leadership Consulting, 01/01/19, Present, HJH and Associates is an executive coaching and leadership consulting firm specializing in helping CEOs and senior leaders integrate their personal identity with their professional role. The firm focuses on developing executive presence, refining communication, and strengthening leadership impact., Executive Identity Development – Coaching leaders in their transition from senior leadership positions to CEOs., Strategic Leadership Coaching – Guiding leaders in decision-making, organizational vision, and leadership alignment., Public Speaking & Communication Strategy – Teaching executives to develop inspirational, high-impact messaging for stakeholders., Organizational Culture & Leadership Presence – Training CEOs to embody their institution’s mission and values., Clients include CEOs, presidents, senior executives seeking to enhance their leadership impact.

• Expanded Lee University’s Endowment from $4.7M to $25M, securing the first-ever $1M annual endowment gifts (two consecutive years).
• Increased the Alumni Fund from under $300K to over $450K annually, establishing the President’s Circle Lifetime Giving Program to encourage sustained alumni engagement.
• Created the Faculty Council Awards, the first new faculty recognition program in 25+ years, including the Nora Chambers Award for faculty excellence.
• Founded the ELLs Grant Program, providing monthly grants of up to $2,000 for faculty initiatives.
• Developed 'Art in the Open', a campus-wide student performance program celebrating the liberal arts.
• Launched 'Insider Magazine', a visually compelling publication providing alumni with behind-the-scenes perspectives of Lee University.
• Led the organization of Vice President Mike Pence’s Visit, one of the most high-profile campus events in Lee’s history.
• Directed the design and implementation of a three-story historical mural in the Humanities Building, visually telling the Lee story.
• Created the Yellow Umbrella Giving Tradition, an initiative that transformed alumni philanthropy into a recognizable and celebrated campus symbol.

Lee University is at a pivotal moment, needing to honor a rich heritage while stepping boldly into the future. The past three decades have been an exciting and successful prelude, potentially positioning Lee for its greatest era of growth and impact. To realize its full potential, Lee University must renew its century-old commitment to integrate faith, academic excellence, and institutional vision in a unified pursuit of its mission. It is the solemn responsibility of a president to balance tradition and transformation. My leadership will be focused on uniting Lee’s constituencies in that effort. Students, faculty, alumni, donors, community and denominational partners all must be led a shared purpose. I will work to strengthen Lee’s foundation while guiding it toward new opportunities that safeguard its long-term impact and success.