Right out of the gate after receiving her M.A., Lee took a position in the Office of the Governor of Illinois. She left briefly to work on the Victory 2000 presidential campaign, then returned to Illinois to join the Office of State Treasurer. “Illinois politics is as real as it gets,” Lee says. “Coalitions are critical, alliances run deep, all politics are local down to the ward level, and you need to strike the perfect balance between being careful and knowing your stuff.” She credits the Political Campaigning Program for being the best training ground she could ask for. After five years in government and a few statewide races, Lee joined the YMCA of Metro Chicago. One of the largest human services providers in the state, the Y was experiencing the simultaneous challenges of rapidly declining use of core mission services and rising property values. Lee headed up all PR and communications practices when it became apparent that there was a need for more precise and strategic messaging. Through careful navigation in Chicago politics, the Y was able to sell some properties and reinvest those dollars in areas of the city with a dire need for its services. All of this was accomplished under Lee’s leadership. Eventually she found her way into higher education, which was a path Lee never envisioned that she might follow. Change is a constant in her field and she spends the vast majority of her time in meetings. This might scare off many people, but Lee sees it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Lee believes that the most critical aspect of her job is relationship management. Fostering trust without overpromising is key, especially when dealing with faculty. All of her professional and educational training has equipped her to excel in this area. One lesson that particularly resonated with her was to “never stop thinking like the voter. . . . As strategic communicators and campaigners, it’s our job to balance persuasion and trust.”