Dr. Henry C. Lee to Deliver Commencement Address at MCC

Manchester, CT – (May 20, 2013)… Dr. Henry C. Lee, one of the world’s foremost forensic scientists, will address the graduates at Manchester Community College’s 49th commencement ceremony, to be held Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 5:30 PM.

Dr. Lee’s work has made him a landmark in modern-day criminal investigations. He has been a prominent player in many of the most challenging cases of the last 50 years. Dr. Lee has worked with law enforcement agencies in helping to solve more than 8000 cases. In recent years, his travels have taken him to England, Bosnia, Canada, China, Brunei, Bermuda, Germany, Singapore, Thailand, Middle East, South America and other locations around the world.

Dr. Lee’s testimony figured prominently in the O. J. Simpson, Jason Williams, Peterson, and Kennedy Smith Trials; and in convictions of the “Woodchipper” murderer as well as thousands of other murder cases. Dr. Lee has assisted local and state police in their investigations of other famous crimes, such as the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey in Boulder, Colorado, the 1993 suicide of White House Counsel Vincent Foster, the death of Chandra Levy, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, and the reinvestigation of the Kennedy assassination. He was a consultant for more than 800 law enforcement agencies.

Dr. Lee is currently the director of Forensic Research and Training Center and Distinguished Professor in Forensic Science of the University of New Haven. He was the Chief Emeritus for the Connecticut State Police during 2000- 2010 and was the Commissioner of Public Safety for the State of Connecticut during 1998 to 2000 and has served as the state’s Chief Criminalist from 1978 to 2000. Dr. Lee was the driving force in establishing a modern state police communication system, Community based police services sex offender and DNA databank, major crime investigation concepts and advanced forensic science services in Connecticut.

In 1975, Dr. Lee joined the University of New Haven, where he created the school’s Forensic Sciences program. He has also taught as a professor at more than a dozen universities, law schools, and medical schools. Though challenged with the demands on his time, Dr. Lee still lectures throughout the country and world to police, colleges and universities and civic organizations. Dr. Lee has authored hundreds of articles in professional journals and has co-authored more than 40 books, covering the areas, such as; DNA, fingerprints, trace evidence, crime scene investigation and crime scene reconstruction.

Dr. Lee has been the recipient of numerous medals and awards, including the 1996 Medal of Justice from the Justice Foundation, and the 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Science and Engineer Association. He has also been the recipient of the Distinguished Criminalist Award from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS); the J. Donero Award from the International Association of Identification and in 1992 was elected a distinguished Fellow of the AAFS.

Dr. Lee was born in China and grew up in Taiwan. Dr. Lee first worked for the Taipei Police Department, attaining the rank of Captain. With his wife, Margaret, Dr. Lee came to the United States in 1965, and he earned his B.S. in Forensic Science from John Jay College in 1972. Dr. Lee continued his studies in biochemistry at NYU where he earned his master’s degree in 1974 and his Ph.D. in 1975. He has also received special training from the FBI Academy, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other organizations.

Students of any age who possess the desire to pursue higher education are welcome at Manchester Community College. MCC is proud of its academic excellence, new facilities, flexible schedules, small classes, low tuition and faculty with both academic and “real world” credentials. The college offers over 60 programs, transfer options, financial aid and scholarships, as well as access to baccalaureate degrees through guaranteed admissions programs with several universities. The main, park-like campus, which is easily accessible from I-84, is also the home of Great Path Academy, a middle college high school, serving grades 9-12. The college’s second location, the Manchester Community College Arts and Education Center, opened in downtown Manchester in 2012.

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