Summary
Willy Lee is a DEI and Inclusion Specialist and seasoned IT leader in Minneapolis with 14 years of experience blending people-focused culture work and technical operations. At the Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation he splits time leading DEI strategy—chairing the DEI committee and partnering with HR and leadership—and managing IT operations and data teams that support large-scale demographic research. He has a hands-on background running LAMP and enterprise stacks, leading system administration, application monitoring, and performance optimization for high-traffic sites and complex research infrastructures. Willy’s work bridges technical depth and organizational change: he’s led data engineering teams, coordinated with university IT, and introduced trainings that embed equity into everyday practice. Trained as a studio artist, he brings a creative, user-centered perspective to technical problem solving and community building. Colleagues rely on him as a pragmatic translator between engineers, researchers, and institutional leaders to get durable systems and equitable cultures in place.
13 years of coding experience
5 years of employment as a software developer
BA, Studio Art, BA, Studio Art at Carleton College