Dr. Esther Lee was not a typical academic "confined" in an ivory tower. She always integrated her academic expertise with her services in the community at all levels. Additionally, her experiences of serving the public have also inspired and enhanced her research activities.
Dr. Esther Lee was appointed to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles by Governor William Clements in December 1989. Her tenure with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles was shortened due to her appointment with the US Department of Education. She had an "ambitious" plan to make an impact on the Criminal Justice System in Texas with the support of the Governor's office. Meanwhile, she was also engaging a research project on inmates whom she interviewed for parole decisions. Unfortunately, she could not finish up both endeavors and left the Board only after six months of service. Yet, her contribution to the Board during this short service was recognized and commended by the Governor as the files show
Dr. Esther Lee was always concerned about ethnic relations and was involved in the criminal justice systems at all levels between 1981 and 2007. Her first involvement was during the racial conflicts inflamed by KKK between the Vietnamese refugee shrimpers and local White fishermen in Texas Gulf in 1981. Due to different work ethics and understanding of American laws, these Vietnamese shrimpers caused great competition in the eastern shores of Texas, outside Houston. Violent burning down of Vietnamese shrimper boats created serious racial tension and great fear in the Greater Houston Area. As a result, Dr. Lee suggested the Mayor Kathy Whitmire’s office to form an Asian Police Advisory Committee to halt the conflicts and promote peaceful relationships among all groups. At that time, Police Chief Lee Brown also appointed Dr. Lee to serve on the City’s Criminal Justice Committee and as an adjunct instructor at the Houston Police Academy. The purpose of Dr. Lee’s appointments was to improve the racial and ethnic relations in the greater Houston area, especially via the well-trained law enforcement officers.
Nearly ten years of being involved in the criminal justice system in greater Houston, Dr. Lee was appointed to serve on the Texas Criminal Justice Committee. Years later, she was appointed by the US Attorney General to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women after her retirement in 2006 as Dr. Esther S. Bearden.
However, back to 1990, her contribution to the criminal justice systems on an advisory capacity seemed not to satisfy Dr. Lee’s commitment to the systems. After more than fifteen years of teaching at the University of Houston/Clear Lake, Dr. Esther Lee decided to take an academic leave to gain a full-time governmental experience at the state level. Because of her interests in human behaviors as related to criminal justice system, one day she dropped by Governor Bill Clements’ office after her regular meeting at the Texas Literacy Council in Austin. She expressed her interest to serve the state government full-time to Mr. J. N. Hoffman, the Director for Personnel and Appointment. Quickly, she was appointed by the Governor to serve on an unfinished term with Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in December 1989. Her recommendations to reduce “Revolving door” and cases of recidivism to the Governor’s office was well-received but unfulfilled due to her appointment to the US Department of Education by the Bush Administration in June 1990. Meanwhile, her research project related to inmates’ cultural determinants on their confinements was also interrupted.
Nearly ten years of being involved in the criminal justice system in greater Houston, Dr. Lee was appointed to serve on the Texas Criminal Justice Committee. Years later, she was appointed by the US Attorney General to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women after her retirement in 2006 as Dr. Esther S. Bearden.
However, back to 1990, her contribution to the criminal justice systems on an advisory capacity seemed not to satisfy Dr. Lee’s commitment to the systems. After more than fifteen years of teaching at the University of Houston/Clear Lake, Dr. Esther Lee decided to take an academic leave to gain a full-time governmental experience at the state level. Because of her interests in human behaviors as related to criminal justice system, one day she dropped by Governor Bill Clements’ office after her regular meeting at the Texas Literacy Council in Austin. She expressed her interest to serve the state government full-time to Mr. J. N. Hoffman, the Director for Personnel and Appointment. Quickly, she was appointed by the Governor to serve on an unfinished term with Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in December 1989. Her recommendations to reduce “Revolving door” and cases of recidivism to the Governor’s office was well-received but unfulfilled due to her appointment to the US Department of Education by the Bush Administration in June 1990. Meanwhile, her research project related to inmates’ cultural determinants on their confinements was also interrupted.