Tina Lee

Tina Lee is a Professor and Program Director in the Social Science Department at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, within the College of Arts & Human Sciences. She also serves as the Stout Core Director, overseeing the university's general education curriculum. Her academic work bridges anthropology, public policy, and social justice.

• Ph.D. in Anthropology, CUNY Graduate Center
• Women's Studies Certificate, CUNY Graduate Center
• M.A. in Anthropology, Arizona State University
• B.A. in Anthropology, University of Houston

Her research focuses on inequality, gender, race, poverty, and public policy, particularly in the context of the U.S. child welfare system and environmental governance. She conducts ethnographic fieldwork in urban and rural settings, examining how structural forces shape lived experiences. Her teaching includes Cultural Anthropology, Anthropology of Gender, and Qualitative Research Methods.

Her recent publications and research projects center on urban inequality, child welfare, environmental justice, and humanitarian engineering. These works reflect a strong interdisciplinary approach combining anthropology with public policy and environmental science. The LAKES REU project exemplifies her commitment to training students in impactful, community-relevant research.

• Co-Director of NSF-funded LAKES REU site

Dr. Lee mentors undergraduate researchers through the LAKES REU program and leads curriculum development as Program Director for Applied Social Science. She has no listed grants beyond the NSF REU, but her leadership in research and education demonstrates sustained scholarly engagement. She does not list specific advisees, but her role implies significant student mentorship.

She is actively involved in research and academic leadership, particularly through the LAKES REU, which trains students in addressing phosphorous pollution in the Red Cedar Watershed. This initiative reflects a collaborative, interdisciplinary team approach to environmental and social challenges.