Winterberry Education

Having worked closely with Ian, what stood out to me most was that he genuinely has the heart to teach.

He understands that every student learns differently, and he has the ability to adapt his teaching approach to each individual. Rather than using the same method for everyone, he takes the time to find a way of explaining things that the student can understand and absorb, while still ensuring that their learning stays aligned with the syllabus.

Ian has also been an inspiration to the teachers around him. He is constantly keeping himself updated with new information and teaching approaches, and is always willing to share what he learns. More importantly, he has a way of helping fellow educators translate information into lessons that are engaging, relatable and easier for students to understand.

What I appreciate about Ian is that he doesn't just focus on what to teach. He puts a lot of thought into how each student learns, how to keep them engaged, and how we as educators can continuously improve the way we teach.

- Andy, Co-instructor at The Brainery Code (Coding and Robotics School for Ages 5–16)

Ian Lee has been an incredibly valuable mentor for the past 4 years. He comes to meetings prepared, takes the time to understand what your goals are, and helps organize manageable tasks so that your goals can be reasonably accomplished. In my experience, he has always taken a very objective view, and provides helpful feedback that is actionable. He sets realistic timelines for things and has the technical background to make sure that these timelines can be met. He expects excellence of himself, and dives deeply into anything he does, ensuring that he has the expertise to advise others. Beyond his technical expertise, one of his most helpful mentorship qualities is his ability to take something that feels unmanageable and break it down into component parts that can be tackled.

- Amanda, PhD Research Mentee at Penn State

I met Ian right after graduating college, when I’d just moved to Athens, Georgia to join a research project studying permafrost degradation and waterway networks to support infrastructure planning in Unalakleet, Alaska. It was a challenging project, where I was completely out of my comfort zone, and Ian was a natural leader and a steady guide from day one.

What set him apart was the way he guided the team. Rather than handing me answers, he gave me the tools to find them myself. He showed me how to think critically about the problems in front of me, track down the resources I needed, and keep pushing even when a task felt out of reach. Under his mentorship I learned to code, produce high-quality research products, and contribute meaningfully to a team, skills I still rely on years later in my field.

Ian is now both a friend and a colleague, and I can’t recommend him enough as a teacher and mentor.

- Clara, Former Colleague on a NASA Project

Ian has been instrumental, providing immense support by mentoring me throughout my graduate school career. From assistance with future careers in STEM, continuing in higher academia, and support with project management, Ian’s experience and expertise have built a stronger foundation for the path I wish to pursue. I had the opportunity to be mentored by Ian during a past project that utilized geospatial applications in ecological conservation; he was able to provide insights and advice on navigating various dynamics of working with teams in his past projects, in conjunction with utilizing technical skills and being a better science communicator. Meeting with Ian influenced my success in the project, which has carried into my second year as a master’s student.

Not only has Ian been a mentor in science and projects, but he has also been present as a supporter beyond one-on-one meetings by following up on ideas and attending events and presentations, which shows his commitment to being active in the development and success of his students’ work. Ian has been nothing but generous, patient, and kind when mentoring, which, to me, is also a crucial component that enables a beneficial mentorship. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have experienced Ian’s mentorship, and I would recommend him to anyone who is also interested in STEM and Earth Sciences.

- Nevaeh, NASA Project Mentee, Columbia University

I was Ian’s supervisor in graduate school. He taught me as much as I taught him, and more importantly, when I had new students join our research group, I had Ian mentor them as well as myself. He could see where they were having difficulties and would spend a lot of time working through problems (big and little) until they were up to speed and could work independently. I know I didn’t have some of the expertise he had and I deeply appreciated his help.

- Sridhar Anandakrishnan, Former PhD Advisor, Professor of Geosciences at Penn State

Dr. Ian Lee is a brilliant scientist, and a clear and effective teacher and mentor.  He developed techniques to identify and interpret more than 1 million microearthquakes caused by ice flowing out of Antarctica, and designed and deployed new instrumentation to study other glaciers.  He generously makes his techniques widely available, giving extra effort to help others master and apply his advances to learn more about ice sheets and sea level, aiding their careers and improving science.

- Prof. Richard Alley, Former PhD Advisor, Member of US National Academy of Sciences and Fellow of the Royal Society