Yejee Lee

Education

• PhD Business, Indiana University (2025)
• MS International Business and Strategy, Sookmyung Women’s University (2018)
• BS Business Administration, Sookmyung Women’s University (2015)

Biography

In her research, Dr. Yejee Lee investigates the complexities of firms’ responses to sustainability demands, exploring the enablers and barriers to corporate sustainability practices. She earned her PhD in business from Indiana University, where she published two papers in prestigious management journals—Journal of International Business Studies and Strategic Management Journal—and received the IU DeVault Award, a highly coveted PhD student research award.

In 2024, she earned a Strategic Leadership and Governance Interest Group Best Paper award at the Strategic Management Society conference for her work on the compensation of new CEOs hired at firms that had engaged in socially irresponsible practices. She and her co-authors found that new CEOs are likely to receive higher initial compensation to offset potential risks that the focal firm’s negative reputation may spill over to their personal reputation.

At Auburn, she is exploring how firms strategically tackle sustainability challenges like manmade disasters, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory changes in multinational or cross-border contexts. She is teaching Strategic Management (MNGT 4800).

In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, baking and exploring new coffee shops.