About me

Hello, my name is Min Young Lee. I am a postdoctoral research associate at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. I will be joining the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University as an Assistant Professor in July 2026.

My research examines how everyday social fabric of work shapes who we believe ourself to be, whether we feel acknowledged or dismissed, and how these internal shifts influence our motivation, engagement, and behavior at work.

My research centers on two interconnected streams:

• Self-diminishment, where individuals internalize marginalizing experiences and come to undervalue their contributions.
• Self-empowerment, where individuals internalize affirming experiences and develop a strengthened sense of agency and capability—sometimes accompanied by reduced sensitivity to context and feedback.

In addition to my research and teaching, l manage the Center for Decision Research at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, which supports empirical research on individual, team, and organizational dynamics.

I received my PhD in Management from Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business, MA in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and my BA in Psychology and Sociology from Emory University.