Shelley Lee

Shelley Lee is a Professor of American Studies and History at Brown University, with affiliations in Urban Studies. She previously served as Professor of History and Chair of Comparative American Studies at Oberlin College. Her research focuses on Asian American history, urban history, and twentieth-century U.S. immigration patterns.

Her scholarly work includes major publications like Koreatown, Los Angeles (2022) and A New History of Asian America (2013), examining race, migration, and urban spaces. She contributes to public discourse through writings on higher education issues (e.g., Me Too movement) in Ms. Magazine and Salon. Currently, she co-leads Brown University’s Asian Pacific American and Diaspora Studies working group.

Lee’s research interests span undocumented immigration history, Asian American public history, and urban racial dynamics. She actively engages with interdisciplinary projects connecting academic scholarship to community narratives.

Office Hours: Tuesdays 1–3 PM and Wednesdays 10 AM–12 PM (Zoom available).