About
Darryl
Darryl Lester services as an Associate Vice President of Capacity and Civic Infrastructure at Partners for Rural Impact. His work centers on “Talent Development” to strengthen leaders, organizations, and schools in under-resourced rural communities through national and community service, asset identification, and civic engagement.
Prior to joining PRI, Darryl was engaged in growing community philanthropy, promoting Civic and Community engagement, developing leaders that are purposeful, grounded, and culturally appropriate and competent, and promoting recreational opportunities for young people with physical and mental challenges through The Institute for Building Communities by Design and HindSight Consulting which seeks to build communities by design and not out of crisis through growing.
He is well acquainted with educational institutions, having served as the Assistant Director of the African American Cultural Center at North Carolina State University, an Adjunct Professor in the Public Administration department at North Carolina Central University, an Assistant Dean at UNC- Chapel Hill, the Assistant Director of African American Student Affairs at North Carolina State University and as a Counselor in the Counseling Center at Shaw University (NC).
In 2005 and 2006, he traveled to Cape Town, South Africa as a participant in the Bi-National Civil Society Forum sponsored by the Southern Africa – United States Center for Leadership and Public Values Darryl is a graduate of Brevard College (A. A. in Business Administration), Wofford College (B.A., Economics) and North Carolina State University (M.Ed. in Counselor Education and minor in Psychology). He enjoys the brotherhood that he shares as a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as well as the President of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club – Raleigh Chapter.