Ben Lee

Ben Lee is a Clinical Professor of Communication and Associate Director of the Communication Management (MCG) program at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He earned his PhD from USC Annenberg in 2005 and oversees curriculum development, admissions, academic advisement, and career development for the MCG program. His work has expanded program courses from 40 to 80, focusing on marketing communication and media entertainment to support interconnected master’s programs like Global Communication and Communication Data Science.

• Education: PhD in Communication from USC Annenberg (2005)

His research and practice explore human performance in volatile environments, with a focus on media industries and U.S.-China academic/cultural collaborations. He leads USC Annenberg’s partnerships with Chinese universities (e.g., Shanghai Jiao Tong, Tsinghua) and advises on educational and market strategies between Chinese and American media firms.

Teaching includes courses on big data methodology, communication internships, and research practicums. His global perspective is informed by his students’ backgrounds and cross-continental collaborations.