Dr. Mi Ae Lee By Madeline Stanley (谭美玲)

Professor Mi Ae Lee has been a professor at Farmingdale for four years now for the Sport Management Program. She received her undergraduate degree in South Korea, where she was born and raised. She identifies more as Korean than Asian; it is much more meaningful to her. Interested in fashion marketing, she moved to New York City as an international student. Her academic interests changed to sports marketing, she enjoys watching baseball and soccer as well as playing tennis, skiing and snowboarding. She received her PhD from Temple University. Living in South Korea, everyone looked like her. She had never given much thought to her Korean heritage. Moving to the United States, there are people of every race, ethnicity and culture. When learning English, Professor Mi Ae Lee was surprised to find that eye contact is important in communication. In Korean culture, eye contact, especially with elders, is rude and a sign of disrespect. Elders are much more respected in general. Professor Mi Ae Lee holds many great achievements professionally. Working hard to obtain her PhD, moving to Long Island and getting a job at Farmingdale State College. Her next goal is a promotion to associate professor. A fond memory from her childhood is going on picnics with her mother’s homemade kimbap; cooked rice, meat, fish and vegetables of all varieties rolled in gim-dried sheets of seaweed. Professor Mi Ae Lee and her husband continue to celebrate Korean traditions such as having rice cake soup to celebrate the new year and seaweed soup to celebrate their birthdays. She is a female, catholic, daughter, professor etc. She supports characterizing people for more than their race or ethnicity.