Contact
s.lee@ajman.ac.ae
06 705 null
Ajman Campus
Sang Yeal Lee

  • Sang Yeal Lee

  • Professor, Coordinator of Master of Public Relations and Corporate Communication
  • Ext: --
  • CV

Dr. Sammy (Sang) Lee is a professor in the Master’s Program in Public Relations and Corporate Communication. Dr. Sammy joined the College of Mass Communication as a professor in 2022. He previously taught at Pennsylvania State University and West Virginia University in the United States for more than 20 years. Before entering academia, he worked at marketing communication agencies in South Korea and the United States. He also served as a marketing communication manager at Samsung Electronics America. Dr. Lee’s current research focuses on crisis communication, with an emphasis on stealing thunder strategies. His work has appeared in journals such as Business Horizons, Public Relations Review, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Journal of Promotion Management, and Journal of Tourism and Travel Marketing. He has received several top research paper awards from AEJMC, NCA, and BEA.

Education
  • Ph.D. in Mass Communication, Pennsylvania State University, USA (2004).
  • MA in Advertising, Michigan State University, USA (1986).
  • BS in Advertising & Public Relations, Chung Ang University, South Korea (1984).
Experience
  • Coordinator of Master's Program in Public Relations and Corporate Communication, Ajman University (2023-current)
  • Professor of Master’s Program in Public Relations and Corporate Communication, Ajman University (August 2022)
  • Professor of Advertising & Public Relations, Reed College of Media, West Virginia University, USA (2021)
  • Co-Founding Director of Public Interest Communication Research Lab, Reed College of Media, West Virginia University (August 2019-August 2022)
  • Director of Research and International Curriculum, Reed College of Media, West Virginia University (August 2019-August 2022)
  • Program Chair, Advertising & Public Relations, Reed College of Media, West Virginia University (August 2019-August 2021)
  • Program Chair, Strategic Communication, Reed College of Media, West Virginia University (August 2015-August 2019)
  • Chair, Advertising Program, Reed College of Media (January 2005-July 2015)
Teaching Area
  • Research methods, Communication theories, communication campaigns
Research
  • Crisis Communication, media effects
  • Crisis communication, stealing thunder, media effects
Publications
Conference Presentation
  • Lee, S., & Lee, J. (2019). Fixing the Barn Door Before the Horse Bolts: Effects of pre-crisis engagement and stealing thunder in crisis communication. Paper presented at the 2019 AEJMC Conference in Toronto, CA.
  • Fraustino, J., Lee, S., & Lee, J. (2018). Being Bad Abroad: Effects of Stealing Thunder by Self-Disclosing Corporate FCPA Violations. 2018 Doug Newsom Award/Top paper award in the Public Relations Division of AEJMC.
  • Oppe, E. & Lee, S. (2016), An expected crisis: A case study of Volkswagen diesel crisis.” Paper presented at the 2016 National Communication Association in Philadelphia, PA.
  • Ahn, H. & Lee, S. (2016). Resisting persuasion: The effects of message framing and brand attachment. Paper presented at the 2016 International Communication Associate Conference in Fukuoka, Japan.
  • Lee, S. (2014). Stealing thunder in crisis communication: The moderating effects of forewarning and brand attachment. Paper presented at the 2014 ICA Conference, Seattle, WA.
  • Lee, S. (2010). Efficacy of anti-racism Inoculation. Paper accepted for presentation at the 2010 International Communication Association, Singapore.
  • Shen, F. Lee, S., Snipes, C., & Hu, F. (2009). Effects of media framing of obesity among adolescents. The 2009 Media and Healthy Development in Adolescence Conference, May 3-6, 2009, Hong Kong, China.
  • Lee, S. (May, 2008). Repetition effects on exaggerated advertising claims. The 2008 International Communication Association Conference in Montreal, Canada.
  • Lee, S. & Sundar, S. (May, 2005). The effects of ad variation on the Web. Paper presented at the Mass Comm Division at the Annual ICA Conference in New York, May 26 – 30, 2005.
  • Lee, S. (Aug., 2003). To vary or not? Research implications of ad variation in Web advertising.” Paper presented at the AEJMC Convention in Kansas City, MO.
  • Lee, S. & Ming, C. (2002). Behavioral correlates of university Websites. Paper presented at the National Communication Association (NCA) 2002 convention, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Memberships, Awards and Honors
  • Top Paper Award, Business Communication Division, National Communication Association Conference, November 2018.
  • Second Place Paper Award, Research Division, Broadcast Education Association Annual Conference, April 2018.
  • Doug Newsom Award/Top Paper Award, Public Relations Division Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 2018.