“The fashion industry is one of the most secular industries. But, think about it. Fashion is one of the world’s largest industries. You can impact a lot of people’s lives by working with them or for them.”
-Jaeil Lee
Dr. Jaeil Lee’s journey to the classrooms of Seattle Pacific University is one that spans continents. At the heart of it all is her deep faith in Christianity. She hopes that her teaching has encouraged students to be proud of their beliefs even in one of the most secular large-scale industries: fashion.
Originally from Korea, Dr. Lee began her academic career in her home country before she moved to the United States to pursue both her master’s degree and PhD at Ohio State University. During school, she was offered an opportunity that would eventually aid her in teaching. A six-month internship at Abercrombie & Fitch turned into a full-time position as an associate technical designer, which gave her valuable knowledge of the industry in practice.
After two years of industry experience, she felt called to something different. She recalls being intrigued when she first read SPU’s faith statement. “I saw one sentence: ‘faith is required,’ and I thought it was interesting. God has good reason,” Lee said. “He called me here.”
She led Bible studies for high schoolers at a Korean church, where she shared the Prayer of Jabez from 1 Chronicles 4:10. “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain,” Lee read from her Bible. That prayer spoke to her during the time that she decided to become an educator.
Dr. Lee sees her role at SPU as more than just a professor. “People here, they care. Their lives are centered by God. I am in a place where everyone is focused on the same thing: faith. It’s been a blessing,” Lee explained.
In her 24 years of teaching, she has also participated in teaching experiences in Mongolia, Burma/Myanmar, and Korea, and product development/consulting experiences with major companies Abercrombie & Fitch and LG Fashion. These help her bring a global, real-world industry perspective that differs from many in academia.
The religiously based mission of SPU adds a unique aspect to this portion of her career. As she teaches her students, she hopes to inspire them to pursue their fashion-related goals while cultivating their faith still. “How you shine, being a Christian in this industry, changes a lot of people’s lives,” Lee said.
“The fashion industry is one of the most secular industries. But, think about it. Fashion is one of the world’s largest industries. You can impact a lot of people’s lives by working with them or for them,” Lee explained. “I want students to maximize their talents in order to impact so many people.”
Her field experience has led her to understand, in a way that differs from some of her academic colleagues, how secular the fashion field is. She realizes the importance of allowing her faith to shine through. Even in an industry like this, Dr. Lee knows that each student’s God-given talent and spirit will positively impact those they work with, and that is what she hopes she has shown them.
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