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Faculty

SeungYeon Lee

SeungYeon Lee

Assistant Professor of Clinical Art Therapy

B.A., College of Human Ecology, Yonsei UniversityM.A., Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York UniversityEd.D., Teachers College, Columbia University

Description

SeungYeon Lee, Ed.D., ATR-BC, LCAT, has served as a board certified and licensed Creative Art Therapist since she received her Master’s degree in Art Therapy from New York University in 1999. Her clinical practices focused on immigrant youngsters’ artistic engagements as learning tools for them to grow into thoughtful and engaged citizens living in a challenging environment. For those young immigrants, she developed a series of community after-school art therapy programs in New York City. In 2009, she received her Doctor of Education in Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Lee’s research has involved the study of at-risk immigrant children and the role played by the visual arts in their efforts to form new identities; she has presented papers on the topic at national and international conferences. At New York University’s Langone Medical Center, Dr. Lee expanded the clinical application of art therapy to an adult population with inpatient psychiatric services. She also initiated a partnership with the Museum of Modern Art to facilitate art-appreciation therapy groups for the psychiatric patients and their families. In 2007, she also launched a pilot project to teach digital photography to patients of the Rusk Rehabilitation Institute and managed several exhibitions, the latest of which consisted of eight patient-artists’ works at the Clamp Art Gallery in Chelsea, New York. Before joining C.W. Post’s Clinical Art Therapy Program, Dr. Lee taught at New York State University at Dutchess as well as at Montclair State University. She has also maintained an active private practice in New York City.

Specialties

Her research focused on at-risk immigrant youngsters’ artistic engagements as a learning tool for them to grow into thoughtful and engaged citizens living in a challenging environment. She highlighted and strengthened the importance of out-of-school time for these urban at-risk children a community-based art therapy program in New York City; its purpose was to re-consider the theory and practice of community art therapy program in a culturally diverse, urban community. Her current research agenda remains committed to developing innovative community art-education therapy programs.

Publications

  • Lee, SY. (2011, Schedule to present in July). The Experience of “Flow” in Art Therapy: Empowering Immigrant Children to Escape from their Boredom and Anxiety . Paper presented at American Art Therapy Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
  • Lee, SY. (2007, March). Art is a Fun Place to Be: Investigation of Optimal Artistic Experiences of Immigrant Children At Risk. Paper presented at National Art Education Association Annual Conference, New York, NY.
  • Lee, SY. (2006, November). Community-Based Art Therapy Programs for At-Risk Immigrant Children. Paper presented at American Art Therapy Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
  • Lee, SY. (2005, September). Optimal Artistic Experiences of At-Risk Immigrant Children. Paper presented at European Arts Therapies Conference, Crete, Greece.

Exhibits

  • Eyes of Patience, Clamp Gallery, New York, NY, March 2007, Organized exhibition of 40 photographic art works created by six patient-artists of the Rusk Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center
  • Photography Exhibition, MACY Gallery, Teachers College, Columbia University, May 2004, Exhibited three black & white landscape photographs
  • Children's Art Works, Korean Association of New York, New York, NY, May 2001, Organized exhibition of twenty drawings and paintings created by immigrant Korean youth

Performances

  • Puppet Shows, Yonsei Theater, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, October 1991 – October 1994, Organized annual public performances with hand, string, and shadow puppets

Licenses and Certifications

  • Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT), Office of the Professions, New York State Education Department, March 2006
  • Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC), American Art Therapy Credentials Board, February 2004
  • Registered Art Therapist (ATR), American Art Therapy Credentials Board, July 2000
  • Kindergarten Teacher License, Ministry of Education in Korea, February 1995