Celebrating 50 years at Augustana

Homecoming and Family Weekend 2023 was not only a day to celebrate all things blue and gold, it was also a day to fête Dr. Dan Lee and his 50 years of dedicated teaching at Augustana College.

The Department of Religion and Phi Rho sorority recognized Dr. Lee Oct. 7 at Homecoming’s QuadFest, with attendees receiving a special treat and signing a book of appreciation. Dr. Lee is a longtime advisor to the Phi Rho sorority.

A member of Augustana’s faculty since 1974, Dr. Lee is a professor of religion and serves as the director for the Center for the Study of Ethics. In 2013, after recently being named the Marian Taft Cannon Endowed Chair in the Humanities, he shared his vision for the direction and potential impact of that chairship, a position which he continues to serve today. View his video from April 30, 2013.

He recently told the Augustana Observer how proud he is to see Augustana’s student diversity grow significantly during his tenure. 

“One of the big changes, and one that I applaud very much, has to do with international students,” Dr. Lee told the Observer. “When I started teaching here, there were a handful of international students, mostly from Sweden. Now there are substantial numbers of international students … and they come from Nepal, Morocco, Ethiopia, Vietnam, India and many other places. I think that’s absolutely wonderful.” 

A longtime columnist for the Quad-City Times, Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, Dr. Lee looked back on this change and the many other ways he has seen Augustana evolve in his Oct. 15 column, “Reflecting on 50 years on the Augustana faculty.”

In addition to his regular column, Dr. Lee has authored numerous articles and books, including “Human Rights and the Ethics of Globalization,” which he co-authored with his daughter Elizabeth Lee. 

President Andrea Talentino said Dr. Lee is an Augustana institution. 

“His career has spanned an astonishing time and seen four Augustana presidents as well as significant social change, from the end of the Vietnam War to today,” President Talentino said. “Throughout it all, he has served students in every way possible, as a teacher, mentor, community member and role model. Generations of students and Augustana as an institution have been fortunate to have Dan here.”

Dr. Lee is a Navy veteran and holds degrees from Concordia College in Moorehead, Minn., and Yale University. He and his wife, Ruth Lee, established the Excellence in the Liberal Arts Award, which provides Augustana students with $400-$4,000 for international study or summer programs in the humanities. 

“Fifty years of teaching and advising is an immense accomplishment,” said Dr. M Wolff, assistant professor of religion. “The religion faculty are thankful for Dr. Dan Lee's contribution to the Augustana community and our field of research. Bravo!”