GSEP EdD Candidate JinHee Lee Elected Assistant Treasurer of CATESOL

JinHee Lee, an EdD candidate in Learning Technology at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP), has been elected Assistant Treasurer of the CATESOL Board of Directors. Her term will run from November 7, 2026, through November 6, 2027, after which she is expected to transition into the role of Treasurer.

Founded in 1969, CATESOL is a nonprofit professional association that advances the quality of English-language teaching and learning through professional development, research, standards, and advocacy. As Assistant Treasurer, Lee will assist with the organization’s financial operations, oversee insurance matters, and attend Board meetings. She will also vote in the Treasurer’s absence.

Before entering the field of education, Lee spent more than a decade working in banking and finance. The new position allows her to unite that experience with her dedication to language education.

“This position lets me bring together the two parts of my professional life: my financial experience and my commitment to English language teaching and learning,” Lee says. “CATESOL has supported so many educators, including me, and I wanted to help sustain the organization that makes that work possible.”

During her term, Lee hopes to develop a thorough understanding of the Treasurer’s responsibilities while supporting CATESOL’s long-term financial health.

“I hope to learn the Treasurer’s role thoroughly and help keep CATESOL’s finances transparent and sustainable, so that more resources can go to professional development, research, and advocacy for English learners and their teachers,” she says.

Lee credits her GSEP doctoral studies with strengthening her approach to leadership. Her academic research focuses on bilingualism and multilingualism, heritage-language education, and curriculum development. She ultimately aspires to become a faculty member at a higher education institution.

“My EdD studies in Learning Technologies at GSEP have taught me to lead with both evidence and purpose,” Lee says. “Serving as President of CABE Pepperdine has also given me hands-on experience in organizational leadership, planning, and collaboration with faculty and fellow students, which I now bring to a statewide board.”

In addition to joining the CATESOL Board, Lee serves as Assistant Coordinator of the organization’s Research and Writers Interest Group, where she helps connect educational research with classroom practice.

At Pepperdine, Lee leads CABE Pepperdine, a graduate student chapter committed to advancing multilingualism, multiculturalism, and educational equity. She works with the chapter’s leadership team to increase awareness of bilingual-education advocacy, build community among GSEP’s multilingual learners and educators, and plan the chapter’s first mini-conference, scheduled to take place at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus in spring 2027.

“CABE Pepperdine focuses on our campus community, while CATESOL works at the state level,” Lee says. “Both organizations enable me to connect Pepperdine students with the broader professional community of language educators across California.”

Lee’s election reflects her commitment to connecting scholarship, professional experience, and service in support of educators and multilingual learners throughout California.