Dr. Roderick Lee is an associate professor with a joint appointment in Human-Centered Computing and Social Informatics in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State University Park. He also serves as an associate professor of Information Systems in the School of Business Administration at Penn State Harrisburg and as an affiliate associate professor of Higher Education in the Department of Education Policy Studies within the College of Education.
Dr. Lee served as an Administrative Fellow to Penn State’s Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses and Executive Chancellor during the 2024-25 academic year. In 2026, the Computing Research Association selected him for the inaugural cohort of National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) AI Education Fellows, a program funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Dr. Lee’s interdisciplinary scholarship draws on social and behavioral science theories and organizational change and innovation frameworks to advance transformation across organizational, educational, and societal contexts. His research examines the adoption, use, and impact of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on human-centered design, innovation, organizational transformation, and technology governance.
A central focus of his work is understanding how human-centered approaches can inform the design, implementation, adoption, and governance of AI technologies across organizational and societal domains. He also investigates strategies for broadening participation in AI and computing education and the workforce, with particular attention to creating inclusive, equitable, and identity-affirming learning and work environments that support student success, workforce development, and organizational effectiveness.
Beyond his research, Dr. Lee is actively engaged in national efforts to shape the future of undergraduate AI education and workforce development, including the NSF LEVEL UP AI Initiative. His contributions to research, education, and workforce development have been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Oracle Help Us Help Foundation, the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, the Penn State Harrisburg Office of Research and Outreach, and the Penn State Africana Research Center.
Human-Centered AI
Research in this area examines how human-centered principles inform the design, adoption, use, and governance of artificial intelligence systems, with an emphasis on inclusion, equity, trustworthiness, and societal impact.
Technology Adoption, Innovation, and Organizational Transformation
Research in this area examines how organizations adopt and leverage emerging technologies to create value and achieve strategic objectives. Areas of inquiry include innovation adoption and diffusion, digital transformation, resistance to change, and technology-enabled organizational change.
Broadening Participation and Institutional Transformation in AI and Computing Education
Research in this area examines strategies for expanding access to and success in AI and computing education while advancing institutional transformation. Areas of inquiry include belonging, mentoring, educational pathways, workforce development, faculty development, and evidence-based practices that promote participation, persistence, and inclusive excellence.
