She invites students to be Facebook friends, and gives out Starbucks coffee. Dr. YoungAh Lee is making her mark in more ways than just grading papers, as one of the newest professors in the IWU Division of Communication. This fall, she is teaching Communication Research Methods, Public Relations Writing, PR Practicum and supervising the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
Lee is a South Korean native, and while she was there she started a PR agency called CommunicationWorks with two other colleagues. Some of her clients included Microsoft, Haagen Daazs, and other Korean companies. Five years ago she decided she wanted more out of PR so she picked up her life in Korea and moved to Missouri to attend the University of Missouri School of Journalism and Mass Communication. After completing her Masters in two years, she continued on to get her Ph.D. with an emphasis in Strategic Communication. In May she completed her doctoral degree and moved to Indiana with 8 year old daughter JinWon.
Dr. Lee is a new member to the Public Relations Society of America and is excited to lead the PRSSA organization here. She sees lots of potential for this growing organization and is eager to help. The more and more she talks about her ideas, the more she gets excited to see them implemented.
Even with an eight year old daughter at home, she views every one of her students as her own. She says she truly wants the best for her students and wants to help them in any way she can. Hanging in her office is a poster of how to use Facebook as a resource and a tool for students. Sometimes she even plays “The Office” clips to help the students make the connection.
Dr. Lee is a great addition to the Division of Communication. She brings lots of new and fresh ideas to the table. So grab a cup of coffee with Dr. Lee, and get to know her.
