Meet the 2021-22 Dean's Student Council: Jenny Lee
This ongoing series of web posts profiles the 2021-2022 UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture’s Dean’s Student Council.
Jenny Lee is a first year graduate student in the Master of Architecture program.
Jenny Lee arrived at UCLA ready to meet, grow, and connect with a new community.
As a graduate student from Canada, Lee joined the Dean’s Student Council eager to meet students outside of the Architecture program and get involved with the entire UCLA Arts community.
“I hope that [the council] continues to
acknowledge and celebrate differences in
students and fosters a culture that is
always growing, reaching, and looking to
see things differently.”
Jenny Lee
In her undergraduate studies at The University of British Columbia, Lee was active inside and outside of the classroom, and wanted to keep pursuing that engagement at UCLA.
“The council facilitates dialogue between different communities within UCLA and connects them together to create a more integral space for UCLA students and faculty. I hope that [the council] continues to acknowledge and celebrate differences in students and fosters a culture that is always growing, reaching, and looking to see things differently,” Lee said.
“It’s an amazing and positive community to be a part of. People in the council really care about students and give a voice to create change for the better.”
In her architecture studies, Lee’s projects explore the possibilities of design especially in utilizing the spatial and physical construct of built form to react to social, communal issues. She describes her goal as “aiming to respond to present and future global challenges through research by design.”
This quarter, Lee is taking a technology studio focused on “uncovering new architectural propositions and possibilities for living,” specifically in the context of affordable housing in Los Angeles. They are asked to negotiate the logics of the housing typologies we've collectively studied with the demands of a more public program, and to embed these within the specific fabric of LA.
In her first year, Lee has already shifted her work in scale and complexity, and is creating more mindful projects.
“Conversations are my biggest source of inspiration—
whether it's a professor, colleague, friend, family member,
or a complete stranger.”
Jenny Lee
Lee was excited to return to campus after a brief online interlude in winter quarter. She described those few weeks as “rough,” though she did get some time to explore the city, as well as develop her Adobe Illustrator skills. She emphasized the importance of physical models—specifically in architecture—as well as physical interactions.
“Conversations are my biggest source of inspiration—whether it's a professor, colleague, friend, family member, or a complete stranger,” she said.
Lee draws inspiration from a wide variety of artists, architects, and creatives. “Hearing someone's story, their view on the world, and what drives them is always a source of inspiration and always helps me expand my thoughts and ideas,” she said.
Lately, Lee is drawing inspiration from the artist Felicia Chiao, whose illustrations she says she recently fell in love with. She also attributes her recent growth and learning to her AUD professors and peers. “They help me reimagine what I’m able to think and create, and push me to think in ways I would have never thought of,” she said.
Lee also credits her roommate Camille, who is in the same program and cohort, for her help. “Living with another architecture student has been a blessing in disguise. We’re always supporting and learning from each other!” she said.
Lee is setting off to complete her real estate license this summer and start an internship at an architecture firm in either Vancouver or LA, and has big hiking plans.
Looking to the future, Lee hopes to work at a sustainable architecture firm that creates a positive impact on the world, while working as a part-time real estate agent.
Story by Maya Lu
Maya Lu is the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture Strategic Communications Story Producer in Residence and a fourth-year undergraduate in Design Media Arts.
Header photo: Courtesy of Jenny Lee.
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