Dr. Steve Lemons, the recipient of Pfeiffer University’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award, has been keeping in touch with fellow members from Pfeiffer’s Class of 1968 over quarterly Zoom calls since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t think I’ve missed a single Zoom call since that time,” Lemons said recently. “I’ve realized not only what great things Pfeiffer has been doing, but also the great things some of the people in my class have been up to.”

The Zoom meetings also led to a deeper appreciation among Lemons’ classmates for all that he accomplished after graduating from Pfeiffer, from which he earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and sociology, which is now offered as a minor. Jane Cashion Brietz ’68, a Pfeiffer alumna who nominated Lemons for the Distinguished Alumni Award, hadn’t heard from him until the Zoom calls started; she said she “was truly amazed by the breadth and depth of his contributions since graduation.”

Lemons holds an M.A. degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from East Carolina University and a EdD in counseling psychology from Indiana University. After working as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Division office in Salisbury, N.C. and teaching Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling Studies at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., Lemons served with distinction in various administrative capacities for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for over 36 years. His veterans-related work led to his receiving Senior Executive Awards from Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

Lemons credits his desire to help veterans with “the depth of gratitude I had for these people serving their country.” He also derived a great deal of satisfaction from helping veterans find hope in the face of such challenges as fear, depression, and PTSD. “Your life is not over; in fact, it may just be beginning” became the message that he often communicated to them.

Brietz concluded that Lemons “embodies the very essence of servant leadership that Pfeiffer strives to cultivate.” She also said that Lemons’ “unwavering commitment to his country and lifelong dedication to uplifting others” made him “an exceptional candidate” for the award.

Bob Gulledge ’68 said he was “blown away by all (Lemons) had accomplished during his career.” Highlights include over 22 years in the Veterans Benefits Administration, where he eventually became Deputy and then Acting Undersecretary for Benefits, helping redesign the organization’s structure to enhance executive accountability and earning a Senior Executive Award from President George W. Bush for his efforts.

Before that, President Bill Clinton recognized him with the same honor for rewriting legislation that broadened the VA program of rehabilitation for disabled veterans so that it would focus on employment as well as education. This was inspired by an approach favored by the North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation agency in Salisbury, N.C., where Lemons had served as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. “We can educate our disabled clients, but if we don’t help them get a job, our job is only partly finished,” Lemons said.

Lemons, ever ready to take on new challenges, wound up his work for veterans by serving for 14 years in the Veterans Health Administration. Among other things, he came to manage VA Medical facilities in Salem, Virginia, Salisbury, North Carolina; and all the VA Medical facilities in Upstate New York, greatly improving performance at all locations in the process. Lemons’ guiding principle became: “We don’t need to do things the way we always did it. If we are going to improve our care for veterans, why don’t we try something different?”

An example of this philosophy, recognized by President Barack Obama, was the establishment of the first National Veteran Suicide Hotline number to allow veterans, and families of veterans, to speak directly with counselors experienced in providing mental health care to veterans.

Lemons being named Distinguished Alumnus has prompted him to reflect on the impact Pfeiffer College has had on his life. His beginnings at his alma mater were inauspicious: After arriving there from his native New Jersey, he immediately felt at home but soon withdrew when his participation in a Pre-Ministerial program didn’t work out. He returned home, enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard, and eventually undertook advanced infantry training at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

When his military training was complete, he stopped by Pfeiffer for a visit on his way home. He ran into Dr. Cameron West and Dr. Harold Stephenson, who wondered why Lemons hadn’t returned to Pfeiffer to complete his degree.

“They said they had seen real potential in me, more than I had realized,” Lemons said. “They articulated that if I returned, Pfeiffer could help me establish a firm foundation for my life, my career choice, and my future. They were already aware of my strong faith and felt my military experience would help me succeed.”

Lemons decided to re-enroll while completing his military obligations at a nearby Army Reserve Unit in Salisbury, N.C. He received strong support from Dr. Ed Horne, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, and Professor Kathy Tuttle (now Harris), and he prospered academically and made lifelong friends.

Bringing his life full circle from what began at Pfeiffer College, upon completion of his career at the VA, Dr Lemons took advanced training to become a certified Chaplain with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This certification has afforded him the opportunity to respond to natural disasters and civil disorders across the country.

“I am eternally grateful for my time at Pfeiffer,” Lemons said. “Without it, I never would have had the fortitude to undertake the many challenges and opportunities that have made my life so rich. I have been able to both personally and professionally be a person of compassion, honor, loyalty and integrity.”