Board of Councilors’ Corner
Supporting a Family Tradition
By Nicole St. Pierre
When Dr. David Y. Lee joined the USC College Board of Councilors in October 2002, he was hardly a stranger to USC. Through the years, the father of four has spent countless hours on campus, attending siblings’ graduations and Parents Weekend. His family boasts a long line of Trojans, including his wife, two brothers and one sister.
“I’ve been associated with USC for as long as I can remember,” says Lee, founding president of Jamison Properties, a real-estate investment company that owns 7 million square feet of space partially occupied by businesses serving the Korean-American community of Los Angeles. “I’ve seen some great things happening in the College recently and decided it was time to contribute.”
After graduating from an accelerated bachelor’s/M.D. program at Northwestern University, Lee earned master’s degrees in public health and business administration from UCLA. He completed his residency in internal medicine and maintains a medical practice in Van Nuys.
Today, Lee is involved with USC College on two fronts: as a member of the Board of Councilors and as the father of freshman Jamie Lee, an English major who takes courses in the Thematic Option honors program.
“We were thrilled when Jamie decided to attend USC,” says Lee. “In the past 10 years, I’ve watched the College position itself as a highly ranked school that delivers an outstanding education.”
The most evident improvements, Lee says, are in the College’s diverse international programs, its commitment to life-science research and the growing number of impressive faculty appointments. “It won’t surprise me if the College earns a place among the top 10 colleges in the nation very soon, maybe even before Jamie graduates,” he says, smiling.
One way to earn that distinction, says the South Korea native, is to recognize the rich learning opportunities that exist in a Pacific Rim city such as Los Angeles. His position on the Board of Councilors includes membership on the newly formed board of the USC Korean Studies Institute. In this capacity, he is committed to establishing robust programs in the economic and political studies of North and South Korea. His vision falls in lock step with the College’s strategic plan, which targets urban and international studies as a priority initiative.
A strong Korean Studies Institute will be a valuable resource to enhance the College’s international focus, he says, pointing to the many language training and study-abroad programs that already exist.
Lee’s father-in-law, Andrew Nam, who passed away last fall, was one of the original donors to the Korean Heritage Library. Lee’s wife, Miki Nam, earned a B.A. in chemistry at USC College in 1979.
“My family was a motivating factor in my decision to join the board. I think you get to a stage in your life when you want to do more than make money,” says Lee.
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