View source for Lee University

{{Short description|Private university in Cleveland, Tennessee, US}}
{{distinguish|Lee College}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Lee University
 | image                  = Lee_University_Seal.png
 | image_size             = 150
 | former_name            = Church of God Bible Training School (1918–1948)<br />Lee College (1948–1997)
 | motto                  = "Where Christ is King"<ref>{{cite web|title=Lee University|url=http://www.leeuniversity.edu/home.aspx|date=13 February 2013|access-date=2013-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208154303/http://www.leeuniversity.edu/home.aspx|archive-date=2013-02-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | established            = 1918<ref name=QuickFacts>{{cite web|title=Lee University Quick Facts|url=https://www.leeuniversity.edu/about/quick-facts/|publisher=Lee University|access-date=August 13, 2023}}</ref>
 | type                   = [[Private university]]
 | endowment              = $32.9 million (2024)<ref>[https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_audit/2024-06-GSAFAC-0000357706]</ref>
 | president              = Phil Cook<ref name=President>{{Cite web |title=About President Cook |url=https://www.leeuniversity.edu/our-leadership/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=LeeUniversity.edu}}</ref>
 | faculty                = 
 | students               = 3,680 (fall 2023)<ref name=QuickFacts/>
 | city                   = [[Cleveland, Tennessee]]
 | country                = 
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|35|09|57|N|84|52|16|W|type:edu_region:US-TN|display=inline,title}}
 | campus                 = Suburban|campus_size= {{cvt|130|acre}}{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
 | free_label2            = Newspaper
 | free2                  = ''Lee Clarion''
 | colors                 = {{Color box|#9A292F|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#000080|border=darkgray}}<br> Burgundy and navy blue
 | athletics_affiliations = [[NCAA Division II]] – [[Gulf South Conference|Gulf South]]
 | sports_nickname        = [[Lee Flames|Flames]]
 | religious_affiliation  = [[Church of God (Cleveland)|Church of God]]
 | mascot                 = Flames<ref>{{cite web|title=Quick Facts|url=http://leeuniversity.edu/publications/quick-facts.aspx|work=Lee University|access-date=25 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824163318/http://www.leeuniversity.edu/publications/quick-facts.aspx|archive-date=2011-08-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | website                = {{URL|https://www.leeuniversity.edu/|leeuniversity.edu}}
 | logo                   = Lee university tenn logo.png
 | logo_size              = 250
}}

'''Lee University''' is a [[Private university|private]] Christian university in [[Cleveland, Tennessee]], United States. It was founded in 1918 as the [[Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)|Church of God]] Bible Training School with twelve students and one teacher, Nora I. Chambers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hyatt |first=Susan Stubbs |title=In the Spirit We're Equal |publisher=Hyatt Press |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-888435-76-4 |edition=2nd |location=Grapevine, Texas, US |page=328}}</ref> The school grew to become Lee College, with a [[Bible college]] and [[junior college]] on its current site, in 1948. Twenty years later, Lee received accreditation by the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] as a four-year [[liberal arts college]]. In 1997, Lee became a university; it now offers [[master's degree]]s as well as undergraduate degrees.<ref>[https://www.leeuniversity.edu/news/lee-to-celebrate-centennial/ Lee to Celebrate Centennial], Lee University (January 1, 2018).</ref>

==History==
=== Bible training school ===
Lee University's current campus originally housed a [[Methodism|Methodist]] institution, Centenary College and Music School, as early as 1885. Part of the original Centenary facility remains on campus today as part of Lee's administrative building.<ref name="history">{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.leeuniversity.edu/about/our-history/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Lee University |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1911, at its sixth annual General Assembly, the [[Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)|Church of God]] appointed a committee to establish plans for a Bible training school.<ref name=tnen>{{Cite web |last=Rust |first=Randal |title=Lee University |url=https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/lee-university/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Tennessee Encyclopedia |language=en-US}}</ref> Six years later, on January 1, 1918, the school's first term began with a tuition of $1 per week.<ref name=100years>{{Cite web |title=LeeU Centennial – Celebrating A Century |url=https://www.leeucentennial.com/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |language=en-US}}</ref> Classes met in the council chamber of the Church of God Publishing House in Cleveland. Rev. [[Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson|A. J. Tomlinson]] served as the first superintendent of education. The only teacher, Nora Chambers, had twelve students.<ref name=tnen/>

[[File:Large-happy-90th-birthday-lee-university.jpeg|thumb|left|Lee's birthplace was in the Church of God Publishing House]]
In 1920, the school expanded to the old sanctuary of the North Cleveland Church of God on People street and included a dormitory. In 1925, it moved to a larger facility on Montgomery Avenue: the Church of God Auditorium. In 1930, the institution added a high school, school of business, and school of music. The school constructed its first building, a women's dormitory, in 1937, but the following year the school moved to a 63-acre campus in [[Sevierville, Tennessee]], when it purchased the Murphy Collegiate Institute for $29,990.<ref name="100years" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=1930 - 1939 |url=https://www.leeuhistory.com/1930---1939.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Encyclopedia of Lee University History |language=en}}</ref> Intramural athletic teams began in the 1940s.<ref name="overview">{{Cite web |title=Historical Overview |url=https://www.leeuhistory.com/historical-overview.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Encyclopedia of Lee University History |language=en}}</ref> In 1941, the school added a two-year junior-college to focus on teacher training and business education.<ref name="100years" /> The ''Vindagua'' yearbook began in 1942 and the ''Clarion'' student newspaper was first published in 1946.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lee University |url=http://archive.org/details/vindagua1973leeu |title=Vindagua |date=1973 |publisher=Lee University |others=William G. Squires Library Lee University}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.leeclarion.com/about |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Lee Clarion |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Becoming Lee College ===
[[File:Centenary_Building_is_the_oldest_structure_on_Lee_University's_Cleveland_TN_campus.jpg|thumb|Centenary is the oldest extant building on Lee's campus]]
In 1947, [[Bob Jones University|Bob Jones College]] moved from Cleveland to [[Greenville, South Carolina]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of BJU |url=https://www.bju.edu/about/history.php |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Bob Jones University |language=en}}</ref> The Bible training school purchased the 20-acre campus for $1.5 million and the institution returned to Cleveland under a new name, Lee College, to honor its second president, Rev. F.J. Lee.<ref name="history" /><ref name="100years" /> After the move, the junior college received accreditation from the [[University of Tennessee]].<ref name="100years" /> In 1958, Lee gained its first varsity sports team: men's basketball.<ref name="overview" />

In 1960, the junior-college was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.<ref name="100years" />  The school adopted the Vikings mascot in 1961.<ref name="overview" /> Greek letter clubs began the following year.<ref name="100years" /> The annual Parade of Favorites pageant began in 1963.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-20 |title=Hundred Year Journey: The Lee University Story |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BevPTdSfPg |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=YouTube}}</ref> The first Lee Day was held in 1964. In 1965, Lee’s high school program closed and the school opened a science building. The following year Lee desegregated, reached an enrollment of 1,000, and started the shift to a four-year institution.<ref name="100years" /> The 1,800-seat Conn Center auditorium was constructed in 1977.<ref name="history" /> In 1982, the college mascot became the Flames.<ref name="overview" /> The sports arena and library were built in 1983 and 1984 respectively.

=== Conn administration ===
[[Charles Paul Conn]] became president in 1986. He became the longest-serving president of any college or university in [[Tennessee]] history. During his tenure Lee’s enrollment quadrupled from around 1,000 to more than 5,100.<ref name="history" /> In 1988, Lee closed Church Street on campus to create the Sharp Pedestrian Mall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1980 - 1989 |url=https://www.leeuhistory.com/1980---1989.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Encyclopedia of Lee University History |language=en}}</ref>

In the 1990s, Lee built a theatre, recreation center, music building, and college of education. In November 1993, the Ellis Hall dormitory was destroyed by arson in the middle of the night. All 73 students were evacuated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=College dormitory fire injures 17 students - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/11/04/College-dormitory-fire-injures-17-students/1990752389200/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Purvis |first=Dennis |date=Fall 2015 |title=Ellis Hall survivor's journey comes full circle |url=https://www.leeuniversity.edu/wp-content/uploads/Fall-2015.pdf |access-date=2024-04-01 |work=Torch magazine |location=Cleveland, TN |page=23}}</ref> The Voices of Lee choir debuted in fall 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-05 |title=Voices of Lee to Celebrate 25th Anniversary |url=https://www.leeuniversity.edu/news/voices-of-lee-to-celebrate-25th-anniversary/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Lee University |language=en-US}}</ref> The next year Lee launched its first graduate program, church music. During the [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta]], Lee housed more than 300 athletes and coaches participating in the games.<ref name="the90s">{{Cite web |title=1990 - 1999 |url=https://www.leeuhistory.com/1990---1999.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Encyclopedia of Lee University History |language=en}}</ref> In fall 1997, Lee became a university.<ref name="tnen" /> The following year Lee established its Global Perspectives program, requiring all undergraduates to study abroad.<ref name="the90s" />

The 2000s brought a new student center, three-story humanities center, and school of religion building. In 2007, Lee launched its Encore program for students over 60 and purchased the former campus of Mayfield Elementary School.<ref name="leeuhist">{{Cite web |title=2010 - 2019 |url=https://www.leeuhistory.com/2010---2019.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Encyclopedia of Lee University History |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Faith News Network » Lee University Acquires Neighboring School |url=https://www.faithnews.cc/?p=2022 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.faithnews.cc}}</ref> In 2010, Lee purchased the downtown campus of Cleveland's First Baptist Church for $5 million to house a performance venue, Pangle Hall, and the School of Business.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keely |first=Harrison |date=2010-06-14 |title=Lee University buys downtown Cleveland First Baptist Church site |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/jun/14/lee-buys-1st-baptist-church-site/?print |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.timesfreepress.com |publisher=[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]]}}</ref> A chapel and communications building were completed in the early 2010s. In 2013, a Lee University choir sang at the [[Second inauguration of Barack Obama|second inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama]].<ref name="leeuhist" /> Lee began a School of Nursing in 2014 and finished a building for the department two years later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the School of Nursing |url=https://www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/nursing/about/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Lee University |language=en-US}}</ref> The university filed an [[amicus brief]] in favor of employment discrimination against LGBT people in the court case ''[[Bostock v. Clayton County]]'' in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/10/27/lgbtq-students-these-us-colleges-worst-most-unsafe-attend/8542486002 |title=These are the 'worst, most unsafe' campuses for LGBTQ students to attend |first=Naomi |last=Ludlow |date=October 28, 2021 |work=USA Today }}</ref> Enrollment waned in the wake of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and in 2023 the university closed all of its older, communal-style dorms for two years of renovations. Nora Chambers Hall remains closed as of 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ketron |first=Bri |date=2025-03-21 |title=Medlin and Simmons Hall to reopen for fall 2025 |url=https://www.leeclarion.com/2025/medlin-and-simmons-hall-to-reopen-for-fall-2025 |access-date=2025-03-22 |work=Lee Clarion |publisher=Lee University}}</ref> The university suffered a cybersecurity data breach in March 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-03-27 |title=Lee University Announces Data Breach Following Third-Party Software Vulnerability |url=https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/lee-university-announces-data-breach-1531727/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |work=JDSUPRA}}</ref> Groundbreaking on the university's new $15 million, 30,000-square-foot School of Engineering building is expected in summer 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Siniard |first=Tim |date=2025-03-24 |title=Lee University to break ground for School of Engineering building in summer |url=https://www.clevelandbanner.com/news/lee-university-to-break-ground-for-school-of-engineering-building-in-summer/article_c94d0439-fcc3-5030-b5df-98bcd2a6bf80.html |access-date=2025-03-24 |work=[[Cleveland Daily Banner]]}}</ref>

===Presidents===
# [[Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson]] (1918–1922) <small>[Church of God General Overseer (1909–1923)]</small>
# Flavius Josephus Lee (1922–1923) <small>[Church of God General Overseer (1923–1928)]</small>
# J.B. Ellis (1923–1924)
# T.S. Payne (1924–1930)
# J. Herbert Walker, Sr. (1930–1935) <small>[Church of God General Overseer (1935–1944)]</small>
# Zeno C. Tharp (1935–1944) <small>[Church of God General Overseer (1952–1956)]</small>
# J. Herbert Walker, Sr. (1944–1945)
# E.L. Simmons (1945–1948)
# J. Stewart Brinsfield (1948–1951)
# John C. Jernigan (1951–1952)
# R. Leonard Carroll, Sr. (1952–1957) <small>[Church of God General Overseer (1970–1972)]</small>
# R. L. Platt (1957–1960)
# Ray H. Hughes, Sr. (1960–1966) <small>[Church of God General Overseer (1972–1974; 1978–1982; 1996)]</small>
# James A. Cross (1966–1970) <small>[Church of God General Overseer (1958–1962)]</small>
# [[Charles W. Conn]] (1970–1982) <small>[Church of God General Overseer (1966–1970)]</small>
# Ray H. Hughes, Sr. (1982–1984)
# R. Lamar Vest (1984–1986) <small>[Church of God General Overseer (1990–1994; 2000–2004)]</small>
# [[Charles Paul Conn]] (1986–2020)
# Mark L. Walker (2020–2024)
# Charles Paul Conn (interim, 2024–2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-18 |title=President Walker Announces Resignation |url=https://www.leeuniversity.edu/news/president-walker-announces-resignation/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Lee University |language=en-US}}</ref>
# Phil Cook (2025–present)<ref name=President />

==Academics==
{{Infobox US university ranking
| USNWR_REG = 31 of 123
| Wamo_MASTERSU = 410 of 604
| WSJ_NU = 494 of 500
}}

The university is divided into six colleges and schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, the Helen DeVos College of Education, the School of Business, the School of Music, the School of Nursing, and the School of Theology and Ministry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Academics |url=https://www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/ |website=LeeUniversity.edu |publisher=Lee University |access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref>

===Academic programs===
Many co-curricular activities, such as [[chapel]] attendance (offered twice per week; students are required to attend 70% of services a month), [[Community service|service]] requirements (10 hours per semester; 80 total hours to graduate), and the [[study abroad]] program, called Global Perspectives, are required as part of degree programs. Exceptions and special cases are approved by the relevant academic [[Dean (education)|dean]] or the president of the university. All non-local entering [[First year|freshmen]] are also required to live on campus, with exceptions made for those who are married, divorced, widowed, parents, over age 21, part-time, or living locally with immediate relatives.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://web.leeuniversity.edu/pdf/residential-life/off-campus-application.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719230557/http://web.leeuniversity.edu/pdf/residential-life/off-campus-application.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Athletics==
{{Main|Lee Flames}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}

The Lee athletic teams are called the Flames. The university is a member of the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] level of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA), primarily competing in the [[Gulf South Conference]] (GSC) since the 2013–14 academic year.

Lee competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis & track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball. Club sports are offered such as boxing, men's and women's rugby, spikeball and ultimate frisbee.

==Campus==
{{selfpublished|section|date=January 2024}}

[[File:Lee_University_campus_in_Cleveland,_Tennessee_02.jpg|thumb|Aerial of Lee University's south campus]]

Lee University is located on a {{convert|120|acre|adj=on}} campus in the town of [[Cleveland, Tennessee]], which lies between [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]] and [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]].<ref name=100years/>

==Student life==

===Community covenant===
All students are asked to sign a "Community Covenant" which lists several restrictions on behaviors and social interaction according to the school's institutional and religious policy. Most notable are a substance policy barring alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs; and its stance on homosexuality, which is banned in all forms. Men's and women's dormitories are kept separate, and premarital sexual intercourse is prohibited. Immodesty and "occult practices" are also forbidden.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leeuniversity.edu/pdf/newstudents/gateway-portfolio/014-community-covenant.pdf |title=Community Covenant |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060914190031/http://www.leeuniversity.edu/pdf/newstudents/gateway-portfolio/014-community-covenant.pdf |archive-date=2006-09-14 |access-date=2013-01-29}}</ref>

Lee University prohibits [[Same-sex relationship|homosexual relationships for students]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/03/26/alumni-speak-out-after-lee-president-affirms-christian-university%E2%80%99s-stance-lgbtq |title='Harmful to Queer Students' |first=Elizabeth |last=Redden |date=March 26, 2021 |work=Inside Higher Ed}}</ref>

===Greek organizations===
As of 2008, the university recognized ten [[Greek-letter organization]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://students.leeuniversity.edu/info/student-life/clubs/greek.asp |title=Lee University – Cleveland, TN – Temporary Outage |website=Students.leeuniversity.edu |access-date=2012-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927140141/http://students.leeuniversity.edu/info/student-life/clubs/greek.asp |archive-date=2008-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Publications===
[[File:Lee Clarion Newspaper 2009-02-27.jpg|thumb|Lee University's student newspaper, the ''Lee Clarion'', is published during the academic school year.]]
The ''Lee Clarion'' is the campus newspaper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://leeclarion.com |title=Lee Clarion |publisher=LeeClarion.com |access-date=2015-04-14}}</ref>

==Student body==
Lee's enrollment is 5,370 students as of fall 2013, up from 960 in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leeuniversity.edu/publications/quick-facts.aspx |title=Lee University- Publications |website=Leeuniversity.edu |access-date=2013-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515232520/http://www.leeuniversity.edu/publications/quick-facts.aspx |archive-date=2012-05-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
<!-- NOTE: Only people who already have a Wikipedia article should appear here as notable people. This establishes notability. The person's biographical article should say how they are associated with the university. An external reliable source of their association should be cited in their article and here. All others may be deleted without further explanation. Use a short, one-line description of notability (no period). If the person you think is notable does not have a Wikipedia article for themselves, create one. Guidelines for the notability of a person can be found by entering WP:PEOPLE in the wiki search. Guidelines on what is needed and how to write the article can be found by entering WP:MOSBIO in the wiki search. -->
*[[Candace Barley]] – youngest player to compete on the US national rugby team and play in international match; most-[[Cap (sport)|capped]] U20 player in the country
*[[Clark Beckham]] – runner-up of [[American Idol (season 14)|season 14]] of ''[[American Idol]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://leeuniversity.edu/experience/clark-beckham.aspx |title=Clark Beckham |publisher=Lee University |access-date=2015-04-14}}</ref>
*[[Kevin Brooks (politician)|Kevin Brooks]] – mayor of Cleveland and former state representative for Tennessee district 24.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/members/h24.htm |title=Tennessee General Assembly Main Page |publisher=Legislature.state.tn.us |access-date=2012-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108160247/http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/members/h24.htm |archive-date=2009-01-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Nathan Chapman (record producer)|Nathan Chapman]] – Grammy award-winning [[record producer]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_164648.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102041500/http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_164648.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-02 |title=Lee Alumnus Nathan Chapman Stands Out In The Country Music Business – 12/09/2009 |publisher=Chattanoogan.com |access-date=2012-08-01 }}</ref>
*[[Charles Paul Conn]] – president of Lee University (1986–2020) 
*[[Charles W. Conn]] – former Lee president, editor-in-chief of [[Pathway Press]] and General Overseer of the Church of God
*[[Christian A. Coomer]] – state representative from Georgia's 14th district, then judge of the [[Georgia Court of Appeals]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Rep. Christian Coomer (R-14) |url=https://www.house.ga.gov/Documents/Biographies/coomerChristian.pdf |website=[[Georgia House of Representatives]]}}</ref>
*[[Raymond Culpepper]] – former General Overseer of the Church of God
*[[Jay DeMarcus]] – multi-instrumentalist/vocalist for [[Rascal Flatts]]
*[[Four Voices]] – 2002 [[List of quartet champions by year|world champion barbershop quartet]]
*[[Mark Harris (musician)|Mark Harris]] – contemporary Christian soloist and member of [[4 Him]]
*[[Dan Howell (politician)|Dan Howell]] – member of the [[Tennessee House of Representatives]].
*[[Marcus Lamb]] – founder of [[Daystar (TV Network)|Daystar Television Network]]<ref>[http://www.leeuniversity.edu/spDetails.aspx?Channel=%2fChannels%2fAll+Content&WorkflowItemID=9274bde6-c29f-4626-ac77-fb90ee41e94d]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329141441/http://www.leeuniversity.edu/spDetails.aspx?Channel=%2FChannels%2FAll%20Content&WorkflowItemID=9274bde6-c29f-4626-ac77-fb90ee41e94d|date=March 29, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Ben Lobb]] – Canadian politician ([[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] Member of Parliament)
*[[J. Adam Lowe]] – Author and member of the [[Tennessee Senate|Tennessee State Senate]].
*[[Micah Massey]] – tied Grammy winner for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song "Your Presence is Heaven" with [[Israel Houghton]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/feb/11/lee-universitys-micah-massey-wins-tie-grammy-best-/ |title=Lee University's Micah Massey wins Grammy in tie for best contemporary Christian music song |date=2013-02-11 }}</ref>
*[[G. Dennis McGuire]] – former General Overseer of the Church of God
*[[Stanley Nyazamba]] – former Columbus Crew soccer player
*[[Eric Philips (politician)|Eric Phillips]] – current representative for the [[Virginia's 48th House of Delegates district|48th District]] in the [[Virginia House of Delegates]]
*[[Ricardo Pierre-Louis]] – former MLS soccer player drafted in the second round (22nd overall) in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer
*[[Barney Smith (artist)|Barney Smith]] – museum curator
*[[Brooke Simpson]] – finalist on [[The Voice (U.S. season 13)|season 13]] of ''The Voice''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbc.com/the-voice/credits/credit/season-13/brooke-simpson|title=Brooke Simpson - NBC.com|website=NBC|access-date=22 July 2018}}</ref>
*[[Jordan Smith (musician)|Jordan Smith]] – winner of [[The Voice (U.S. season 9)|season 9]] of ''[[The Voice (U.S. TV series)|The Voice]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Hetter |first=Katia|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/16/entertainment/the-voice-winner-jordan-smith-season-9-finale-feat/|title=Fan favorite Jordan Smith wins 'The Voice'|work=CNN|date=December 16, 2015|access-date=December 17, 2015}}</ref>
*[[Phil Stacey]] – ''[[American Idol]]'' finalist during the sixth season; tied for fifth place<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season6/phil_stacey/ |title=American Idol Season Six Top 24 Contestant Phil Stacey |publisher=Americanidol.com |access-date=2012-08-01}}</ref>
*[[Scott Stapp]] – lead singer of the band [[Creed (band)|Creed]]; kicked out of Lee for the use of marijuana (early 1990s)
*[[Todd Starnes]] – [[Fox News]] columnist and radio host
*[[Perry Stone (minister)]] – evangelist and author
*[[John Christopher Thomas]] – New Testament scholar, former President of the [[Society for Pentecostal Studies]], editor of the ''[[Journal of Pentecostal Theology]]'', author of eight books and many scholarly articles.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Charette|first1=Blaine|title=Spirit and Story: Pentecostal Readings of Scripture|last2=Waddell|first2=Robby|publisher=Sheffield Phoenix Press|year=2020|isbn=9781910928691|location=Sheffield, UK|pages=1–18|language=English}}</ref>
*[[Lance Zawadzki]] – [[San Diego Padres]] 2007 draft pick, shortstop<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leeuniversity.edu/goleeflames/baseball/newsDetails.aspx?Channel=%2fChannels%2fAthletics+Content&WorkflowItemID=02bac22c-65f7-4e17-a9d2-4b346cc69e9d |title=Zawadzki First Flame to Reach the Majors |date=2010-04-30 |access-date=2010-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716112317/http://www.leeuniversity.edu/goleeflames/baseball/newsDetails.aspx?Channel=%2fChannels%2fAthletics+Content&WorkflowItemID=02bac22c-65f7-4e17-a9d2-4b346cc69e9d |archive-date=2011-07-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Leeuniversity.ogg|date=2010-05-12}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://leeuflames.com/ Athletics website]

{{Tennessee private colleges and universities}}
{{CCCU}}
{{Gulf South Conference navbox}}
{{NCCAA Division I Mid-East navbox}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Lee University| ]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1918]]
[[Category:Cleveland, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Education in Bradley County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Bradley County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Evangelicalism in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Council for Christian Colleges and Universities]]
[[Category:1918 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Pentecostalism in Tennessee]]