Areas of Responsibility
Dr. Kelly Ferris Lester is the interim vice provost for Faculty Excellence, where she leads in supporting the recruitment, retention, growth, development and success of UCF faculty at all levels.
She joined UCF in 2026 from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), where she served as Associate Provost for Faculty Success. In that role, she led initiatives that support faculty excellence, student success, and innovative teaching and learning. As the inaugural director of USM’s Center for Faculty Development, she expanded faculty leadership opportunities, strengthened teaching excellence, and advanced research across disciplines. Her leadership has also included oversight of faculty onboarding, promotion and tenure, annual evaluation, and faculty leadership development.
Dr. Lester holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from USM, an M.F.A. in Dance from The College at Brockport (SUNY), and a B.F.A. in Theatre with a concentration in dance from the University of Memphis.