Debbie Lee, Mathematics Faculty, to Speak at Commencement

Debbie Lee has been teaching math at Foothill College since 2007. She is also chair of the math and computer science departments, and a co-director of the Honors Institute. Under Lee’s co-leadership, the Honors Institute has sharpened its focus on inclusiveness and educational equity for all.

Lee was born and raised in San Francisco’s Chinatown. She is an active member of Foothill’s Asian Pacific American Network (APAN). As part of APAN, she has coordinated the Rites of Passage ceremony, organized talks on immigration stories, held book club discussions on topics including the model minority stereotype, self-hatred and assimilation and power structure.

A first-generation college student, Lee received her A.A. from City College of San Francisco before transferring to San Francisco State University where she received her B.A. in Liberal Studies and an M.A. in Mathematics. Prior to her tenure at Foothill, Lee taught K-8 for the San Francisco Unified School District. 

Lee loves to teach and enjoys seeing the “ah-ha” moments on her students’ faces. Her proudest moments are watching students connect the lessons from her classes to events in their lives. In her free time, Lee enjoys spending time with her husband, a faculty member at another community college. 

She wishes to congratulate all the graduates and wishes them the best of luck with their future endeavors.