Donna Summerlin

Donna Summerlin is one of the treasured alumni-turned-faculty members Lee loves so much. Providing Lee with exceptional English teaching for 19 years, the road that led her to where she is now has been frequented by fortunate decisions and guidance from above.

Entering Lee in 1970 as a student along with her twin sister Ronda, Summerlin found her way into the English department while in the registration line. “I was standing in line when I was registering at Lee the first time. I was standing in line forever, and when I got to the front of the line, they said ‘major?’, and I thought if I didn’t have one, they’d send me back,” said Summerlin. “So, I turned to Ronda and I said, ‘what should we major in?’ and she said English because it would be easy. And that’s how I made that decision. God must have been directing my steps even when I was casual about it.”

Hard to believe that one of Lee’s passionate faculty members could just as easily have ended up as a nurse (a childhood dream after reading the Cherry Ames books) or a history teacher (but she “had the really good English teacher last” in high school).

After graduating from Lee, Summerlin went on to spend 13 years teaching in the Hamilton County education system at the high school and middle school levels. She even spent one year teaching first grade at her brother’s private school while on maternity leave. “I was meant to be a teacher. I used to circle my friends' mistakes in their notes,” she said.

Summerlin found her way back to Lee in 1988 seemingly on a whim. “The thought of teaching at the college level just appealed to me and especially teaching at Lee,” she said. “When I learned that Lee had an opening that I might be qualified for, I was really excited about the possibility of coming back to my alma mater. I loved Lee when I was a student, and I have loved teaching here, as I expected I would.

No matter where it is, though, Summerlin is always in her element when she is teaching. “Interacting with students is my favorite part of it, but I actually like everything I do. Occasionally, I wish there was less of it when I’m grading papers,” she said. “It’s really all about the students. I enjoy seeing them get interested in something they weren’t before or coming up with something I hadn’t come up with before. It’s always different, it’s always new.”

Incidentally, Summerlin met her husband in a way similar to how she joined Lee. “I prayed for an air-conditioned car and he came to help me, he had an air conditioned car,” she said. “So, I always say God gave me ‘exceedingly, abundantly above all that I asked or thought.’ Unless I’m mad at him.”

In her spare time, Summerlin plays the piano and volunteers in her church orchestra. She and her husband of 28 years, Terry, have two sons, Nicholas and Justin. She is also the proud grandmother of Mason, 9; Morgan, 3; and Maddox, 6 months.

Posted on - 3/31/08