Dr. Michael Hester is a man of many accomplishments. Not only is he a UWG Faculty Member and Alum, he’s an impactful leader.
Written by Alyse-Noel Hicks
Carrollton, Ga – Dr. Michael Hester is a man of many accomplishments. He currently serves as the Special Assistant to the Chief Diversity Officer, Director of Debate, and Coordinator of the African-American Male Initiative at the University of West Georgia. Throughout his twenty-four years working at the university, his past accomplishments include Dean of Honors College, Provost Executive Director of Special Programs, and Faculty Advisor of the Year, two years in a row. During his long West Georgia career, he has maintained the Director of Debate title and has won three national championships. Within his many years at the university, Hester has worked in seven buildings. He started off his career as a faculty member in the Mass Communications and Theater Arts department in September of 1995, and quickly moved his way up.
Dr. Hester was born and raised in Warner Robins, Georgia and attended Northside High School. He was a member of the debate team and participated in tournaments at the West Georgia College campus twice a year. “Debate was a life changing experience because it taught me how to think about the world differently and has radically changed my life in everything I do that has nothing to do with debate,” Hester shares. After graduating high school, he attended West Georgia College as a first generation student on a debate scholarship. Hester was on a pre-law track, but halfway through realized becoming a lawyer wasn’t his calling. In the summer, teaching became an opportunity, as he taught high school debate camp on the campus of West Georgia College. Hester currently teaches high school debate online.
As a college senior, Hester was offered the position of debate coach, but would first have to get his masters in order to accept. Once he received his Bachelors degree in Political Science in 1993, Hester received his Masters in Speech Communication from the University of Georgia in 1995, and came back to West Georgia College to coach debate. Nine years later, he acquired the title of Dr. after receiving his Ph.D. in Communications from Georgia State University. When asked about his accomplishment or contribution he’s most proud of, it’s not his degrees or the many jobs, titles, and opportunities he’s had on campus, but instead shifting his attention from his job description duties to diversity and inclusion issues. The Association of Black Faculty and The Association of Black Staff were two organizations present on campus that came about during the time the demographics of the student body population was changing. “I wanted to have a better understanding of what they were dealing with, contribute to these organizations, and make the school a better place,” Hester states. “A large majority of the way I know students now and the impact I have on our campus is a result of me doing things that had nothing to do with my job description.”
“Dr. Hester has always been interested in diversity and inclusion work, open to having conversations and supporting the initiative that came out of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion because he’s very interested in social justice and inequality at the University of West Georgia. He’s always been a champion in assisting us with different initiatives and projects.”
Ms. Deirdre Haywood Rouse, Director of Diversity Education & Community Initiatives
His passion for injustice led to new opportunities and positions at the University of West Georgia. He’s served on panels that dealt with a Controversies of Culture series, focusing on topics such as human trafficking, social justice, and criminal justice, brought well known speakers and community partners to the Martin Luther King program held every year on campus, and worked with various African-American student organizations on campus, contributing to The Black Project, a week full of events during the month of February. This work led him to become the Special Assistant to the Chief Diversity Officer, as well Coordinator of the American-American Male Initiative. Hester shares that working with students motivates him day to day with their energy, ideas, ambition, and optimistic outlook. “The times that I get to interact with our students are the most fulfilling part of my job.” The positive energy he receives from students energizes him daily. “I love working at an organization where the vast majority of people I interact with haven’t had their dreams crushed yet,” Hester says jokingly.
Dr. Kyle Marrero, President of the University of West Georgia
“Dr. Hester has a passion to impact others and more specifically, is an inspirational force on our campus. He tirelessly works to help students grow and understand their potential. He has become a leading figure in our diversity and inclusion efforts and truly believes UWG is the best place to work, learn, and succeed.”
Some his favorite memories on West Georgia’s campus include spending time with student organizations by working on The Black Project, coaching students on the debate team, and being recognized as Faculty Advisor of the year two years in a row at the B.E.L.A.S., an annual award show that promotes African-American student organizations and its members. “My best experiences tend to be with students,” Hester states.
Christopher Foster, African-American Male Initiative Graduate Student
“I appreciate what Dr. Hester is doing for the AAMI program and how he is still going beyond any barriers to be a positive role model to the young Black men and teaching them to take advantage of every resource that is available to them.”
When Hester isn’t working at West Georgia, you can find him at a sports game, concert, or in another country. “I’m a huge sports fan, anything that has a ball or puck, I follow,” he states. Hester has been to the major league championship for Atlanta United, the conference finals, and semi-finals, and is a Falcons season ticket holder. He has also attended hundreds of concerts, and usually goes to about twenty a year. “Anytime live music is playing, I’m there,” he shares. Hester loves traveling. He’s done internal traveling within the United States for debate and over the last fifteen years, he’s done international travel. Hester has been to six countries, travels to Jamaica every December, and is planning to go to Haiti once he comes back from Jamaica, Rwanda in May 2019, and China in July 2019.
If he wasn’t working at West Georgia, Hester would be teaching somewhere else or doing sports journalism. “If I could do it all over again, I would’ve received a Mass Communications degree, either learned newspaper, television, or radio skills, and done sports journalism.”
His advice for others who want to achieve something, but have many obstacles to overcome is the following: “Imagine you look at a map and you put a pin or tack in the destination you want to reach, then go back and put a tack or pin of where you are now, take a look at the terrain between where you are now and where you want to be. Is there more that one way to get there? The answer is always yes. There are obstacles to some destinations that aren’t obstacles to others. What you think is an obstacle is only an obstacle for a certain destination via a certain path. The same obstacle may be a help in another way. There is nothing that you want that you think is worth having that isn’t going to require some effort from you. Don’t be afraid to change courses.”
“Dr. Hester is a very cool guy who is very understanding about people and what they’re going through. He also helps anyone who needs him at anytime. ALWAYS AVAILABLE.”
Kareem Williamson, AAMI Mentor
“If you’re blessed, pay it forward” is a saying Hester lives by everyday. “I am smart enough to recognize the good fortune I’ve had, appreciative of the friends and supporters I’ve had along the way.” Both of these have influenced me to be supportive and helpful to others.”
“If we needed a poster child for UWG, Dr. Hester would be perfect for it. He loves this place and knows everything about it.”
Yves-Rose Porcena, Chief Diversity Officer
Dr. Hester Feature Story 