Dr Lionel Long has been a resident of New Smyrna Beach since 2004. I have attended St Peter the Fisherman for the past seven years. I have always felt accepted and welcome from the beginning and fell like I have a church home here. I was born and raised in the AME Church in Pennsylvania and as an adult decided to change the way I worship.
After graduating from high school I served in the US army and reserves and had several careers in business and public education, teaching in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Puerto Rico.
Since moving to New Smyrna Beach in 2004, I have been very active in volunteering as a mentor in Volusia County Schools and a short stint at Daytona State College. My focus has been working with underachieving minority students. I am also the president and co-founder of the Westside Community Partners, a 501c3 non-profit mentoring middle school students. I serve on the vestry of St Peter the Fisherman to serve God and my community in whatever way I am called and needed.
My education includes a BA from Cheyney University, Pennsylvania, the nations oldest historical Black College, an MA from Rutgers University and a PhD. I worked at Princeton University’s Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Library, one of the largest open-stack libraries in existence.