Dr. Sarah Lee's teaching and research interests are mainly at the intersection of social psychology and organizational studies. As an assistant professor in the Barowsky School of Business, she teaches subjects such as Organizational Behavior, Managing Across Cultures, Leadership & Teams, among others. 

Her passion lies in understanding human psychology and behavior to help inform organizations to create best practices, and to teach in a way that is both practical and impactful for her students. Her research studies issues that organizations face regarding social justice and DEIA, including: examining the barriers to minorities’ upward mobility in organizations, student resilience and well-being, and sustainable business practices. 

She is involved with the Diversity Action Group (DAG), especially in the Inclusive Hiring and Promotion workgroup; Women in Leadership & Philanthropy Council (WLPC); Institute of Leadership Studies (ILS); among other committees and groups. Dr. Lee’s work is published and presented at both social psychology and business management conferences and outlets. Outside of the classroom, Sarah also teaches barre, yoga and meditation. 

"Good afternoon, I am Gisselle Mejia. I am in my third year at Dominican doing my undergraduate studies as a Chemistry major [and Psyhchology minor] aspiring to become a Physician Assistant. I am a proud first-generation student and I am here today to tell you about my journey so far. 

As a prospective, first-generation college student, I take school very seriously; daily, I see what happens when people make poor decisions that impact their education. My mom delayed her educational goals for the sake of having a family; she had just started to attend college when she learned she was pregnant with me; she put school on hold to raise a family. Seventeen years later, she still desires to complete college. My dad was less fortunate than most growing up and did not graduate from high school. He told me to take advantage of educational opportunities because he was not born in the U.S. and values and admires the American educational system. Therefore, I do not take my education for granted; I know how hard my parents work to allow me to have a good education. Not only do I take my private school education seriously, I actually enjoy it.

Every day I witness peers complaining or bemoaning their school work; I ignore their negativity; I cultivate the opposite. Why be negative, I wonder, when I’m blessed to have two hard-working parents investing in my privileged education? My view on school differs from others, for I regard it as an opportunity to learn and cultivate new knowledge. I feel that my dedication contributes to my academic success because I always look for improvement and push myself to my maximum potential. 

Thinking of the awards and scholarships I have received throughout my education, I feel accomplished. At an academic awards ceremony, I look back at my parents as I proceed to receive my recognition; my dad’s smile beaming with pride and my mom trying to capture the picture-perfect moment to cherish for years to come. Seeing the pride on my parents’ faces with everything I accomplish, pushes me to continue my education in aspiration for a successful future.

I wrote this essay in my senior year of high school and while I am beginning my senior year here at Dominican next semester, this still speaks to me. My introverted high school self would never believe that I am standing here sharing this moment with you all. I used to fear attending college because I did not know what to expect and had no one to ask at the time. I am the oldest of four children in my family, which motivates me most to bring a bachelor's degree home. I aspire to be a positive influence on my three younger siblings, motivating and encouraging them to achieve their own educational aspirations. My family has continued to push me and express their happiness for me. I am truly grateful that my parents have continued to work hard and support me. Despite the immense amount of challenges that college has thrown my way… I cannot help but feel a deep sense of joy and fulfillment from all I have learned academically and myself. 

As a member of the Dominican community… I have been fortunate enough to participate in the Kaiser pre-med mentorship program. This program caught my eye even before I was a student here, and I knew it was for me. Through the program, I have been motivated even further to pursue my dreams of becoming a healthcare professional. Not only am I part of the Kaiser pre-med program… I am also a member of the Honors program and the chemistry honors society. These programs at Dominican have taught me valuable skills such as how to bring what I learned from the classroom, into the community, by participating in Service Learning classes. These experiences have allowed me to make connections, a positive impact around me, and has further inspired me to continue down the path of making differences in the world. Furthermore, I am currently engaged in research with Dr. Meredith Protas, alongside my peers Amelie, Noah, and Navi who are also presenting here today on the Genetic basis of pigmentation and eye loss in the Romanian subterranean isopod crustacean, Asellus aquaticus infernus. Participating in this research has given me many opportunities, including the opportunity to present in front of you all today. 

Growth often comes from pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones… Throughout high school, I excelled academically, receiving top grades and Ace-ing all my exams… This caused me to have high expectations for myself and I was determined to continue my success in college. However, when I arrived, the reality I faced was very different from what I had ever envisioned.  My study habits were not as effective, and the material was way more challenging than anticipated. As a result, I had failed my first 2 exams for the first time in my entire life… I began to question whether or not college was the right choice for me, however after some time and research, I realized that my doubts and struggles were all part of the learning process. I found it is important to keep pushing forward and strive towards your goals, even when things get overwhelming or difficult. Fortunately, I had my mentors to turn to for guidance. As a part of the 10,000 Degrees community, I received tremendous support to help me succeed as a first-generation college student. As I am the only one in my family to attend college, I felt that I could not discuss my academic struggles with them due to the fear of being judged, so my mentors at 10,000 degrees were invaluable. They provided me with resources to learn new study habits and manage my time better, but in the end, it was up to me to take these in and hold myself accountable by applying them. Eventually… with time… I regained my enjoyment of learning after so many trials and errors. I discovered what works best for me and with that, I have been able to apply what I learned to both school and work. My mentors at 10,000 Degrees and the physicians from the Kaiser pre-med program have guided me through unfamiliar territory and inspired me to overcome all obstacles to come… 

I'm appreciative of the support system that has enabled me to continue my schooling. My path to becoming a physician assistant has been greatly aided by my family, friends, instructors, and scholarships. I don't know if I could have conquered the difficulties and challenges I've encountered without their support and I intend to return the favor one day by helping the people who contributed to my education.

No matter where you are in your path, I want to encourage everyone that it is never too late to chase your ambitions. Let us constantly strive to push over our boundaries, our comfort zones, and our goals. Never allow an obstacle to stop you…instead, embrace them as new opportunities for development. With Hard work, perseverance, and an optimistic mindset, there's no limit to what you can do. Thank you."