UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As a junior faculty member with extensive research interests, Aiesha Lee said becoming part of the Penn State community made perfect sense.
Lee will join Penn State’s College of Education as assistant professor of education (counselor education) in the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education.
“It goes without saying that Penn State is a large university that offers a lot of opportunities,” Lee said. “Not only will I have the ability to do meaningful work for the mental health community, but that work will be supported and even celebrated.
“While coming to such a large university can be intimidating, the passion that everyone seems to have for the University speaks volumes. I’m excited to be part of that, too.”
Lee, who just completed her third year in the counselor education and supervision doctoral program at the College of William & Mary, has research interests in Black families, intergenerational trauma, spirituality and trauma-informed care.
Lee is a licensed professional counselor in New Jersey and a nationally-certified counselor. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Montclair State University and completed her master’s in counseling, with a concentration in marriage and family therapy, at The College of New Jersey. Her clinical experiences include working with children, families and adults in a community clinic.
What appealed most to Lee about Penn State included Dean Kim Lawless’ endeavor toward becoming an anti-racist College of Education and the people she met during her interview process.
“I knew that if the dean of the college was devoted to social justice issues, I would be supported as an educator and researcher,” she said. “I've heard horror stories about professionals of color not being able to be their authentic selves as educators and researchers because they didn't get the support of their institution.
“The College of Education, under the new strategic plan, appears to be doing the exact opposite by centering social justice. I look forward to being able to grow as an educator, scholar and person as I learn from the dynamic faculty in the College of Education,” Lee said.