Dan Lee
Dan Lee enjoys a good crime story. But what really interests him is the motivation behind the crime. As a faculty member in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, he shares that enthusiasm for learning with his students every day. Learn more about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.
What is it about the criminology and criminal justice field that initially drew you in—and ultimately keeps you interested?
When I was younger, I thought a lot about becoming a police officer. High-speed chases and detective work on TV are pretty entertaining. When I studied criminology in college, I became more interested in understanding why some people commit crimes and how the criminal justice system responds to criminal behavior.
What keeps me interested in criminology is that understanding human behavior at the individual level is just as complex and challenging as trying to understand the operation of the justice system. There is always something new to explore.
Why do you enjoy teaching in this discipline?
I hope everyone who teaches shares the same enthusiasm as the students who want to learn. It is great to be a part of the learning process. Students have questions, and it is rewarding to help them identify the answers. Criminology relates to a lot of other disciplines, and bridging gaps in knowledge, making connections, and applying the study of crime and justice to other issues makes the teaching more meaningful.
What advice would you give students about how to succeed in college?
Students need to attend college with a purpose in mind. Every university has a lot to offer in regards to content, academic disciplines, and training. Students need to be motivated to succeed, and one way is to learn from professors who are excited to share their knowledge, expertise, and experiences. Success will come for students who are motivated, curious, and dedicated to finding answers to their questions.
Culturally, we stress the importance of being independent. That’s fine in many regards, but students need to realize that most faculty want to help and can be a great resource for accomplishing all of their academic and professional goals.