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 is also an associate professor of Information Systems in the School of Business Administration at Penn State Harrisburg and holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Higher Education in the College of Education. During the 2024-2025 academic year, Dr. Lee served as an Administrative Fellow to the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses and Executive Chancellor at Penn State.
Dr. Lee’s interdisciplinary scholarship integrates social and behavioral science theories with organizational change and innovation frameworks to advance transformation in complex institutional and organizational contexts. His research focuses on broadening participation in AI and computing education and the workforce; designing inclusive, equitable, and affirming STEM learning environments; and advancing human-centered approaches to AI across organizational and societal domains.
His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Oracle Help Us Help Foundation, Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, Penn State Harrisburg Office of Research and Outreach, and the Penn State Africana Research Center.
Dr. Lee has served on numerous advisory bodies at Penn State, including the Select Presidential Commission on Racism, Bias, and Community Safety; a special Office of the President initiative on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging; and the American Talent Initiative/Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities Powered by Publics Steering Committee.
At the national level, he is the inaugural Chair of The PhD Project Advisory Council, a board member of The PhD Project Association, and a member of the Association of Information Systems Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Standing Committee. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania.
Dr. Lee has received multiple honors recognizing his leadership and commitment to inclusive excellence, including the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania Women in Technology Diversity and Inclusion Award (2020), the Greater Harrisburg Area NAACP President’s Award (2021), The Conference for Women Agate Award (2023), and the Circle of Compadres distinction from The PhD Project Information Systems and Sciences Member Association (2024).
