Educational Excellence Since 1912
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12

Asian Student Union Hosts Guest Speaker Dr. Henry Lee

May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander (APPI) Heritage Month, which recognizes and honors the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islanders. To celebrate, the Asian Student Union hosted guest speaker Dr. Henry Lee, a renowned forensic scientist and the founder of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science. 

The Upper School community gathered in Taylor Gymnasium for their end-of-week assembly where Mandarin teacher and club advisor Margaret Wei welcomed everyone and spoke on the importance of the month before turning the assembly over to Dr. Lee.

“We celebrate our Asian American and Pacific Islander family, friends, and neighbors as we honor and share our rich and diverse cultural heritage and traditions, said Mrs. Wei. “I am honored to welcome Dr. Henry Lee to campus today to share his experience and knowledge with us.”

Dr. Lee began his presentation sharing his early life experiences. He is one of 13 children and with education being of utmost importance to his family, Dr. Lee put aside his dream of professional basketball and chose law enforcement, enrolling in the police academy because tuition was free. After working as an officer and becoming the youngest captain at 22 years old, he moved to the United States to further his studies earning multiple degrees and his doctorate in forensic science from New York University.

“It is important to understand your limitations, both physical and logical,” said Dr. Lee. “However, it is up to you to strive for the best, make things happen, and continue working hard to gain knowledge.”

Dr. Lee spent the majority of the assembly speaking on his high-profile case investigation work and the techniques he employed. Over his career, he has worked on more than 8,000 cases and went on to explain what goes into investigating crime scenes. He presented a slideshow filled with different crime scene photos and noted how it is important to properly handle evidence without contaminating it. With each slide, he described the specific scientific principles and methods he used, including trace evidence and pattern recognition. He talked extensively about his process of looking at extreme details and how he helped guide the development and use of contemporary technological support in modern crime science investigations.

Following the assembly, Dr. Lee met with the members of the Asian Student Union to answer questions. He signed a few copies of his book that students can check out of the library. Beyond sharing his professional and personal experiences, Dr. Lee said he hoped his message would inspire students stating, “Make the impossible happen.”

Over the course of his career that has spanned decades, Dr. Lee worked at the University of New Haven as a professor and creator of the forensic science program. He served as Connecticut’s Chief Criminalist before rising to the rank of commissioner of the Connecticut State Police. In 1998, he founded the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science, affiliated with University of New Haven. Currently, he is the director of Forensic Research and Training Center at the University of New Haven. Additionally, Dr. Lee is the grandfather of current student senior Alexander Lee.
Back

Hamden Hall Country Day School

About Us

Hamden Hall Country Day School is a nurturing and inclusive community with a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.