The Dawson Lee Chair in Chinese Culture was officially announced during a meeting in the School of Languages and Cultures at the University’s Camperdown campus, where faculty and school leaders as well as inaugural incumbent of the Dawson Lee Chair in Chinese Culture, Professor Yingjie Guo, welcomed the Lees in acknowledgement of their enduring contribution to the Discipline of Chinese Studies.
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Professor Lisa Adkins, described the occasion as both a moment of recognition and a forward-looking opportunity. She thanked the Lees for their visionary support of the discipline and emphasised the significance of embedding Mr Dawson Lee’s legacy within the University in perpetuity through the named Chair.
Honouring a legacy of culture and education
The renaming of the Discipline Chair position reflects a generous philanthropic commitment and a deeply personal story. Dawson Lee, whose name the Chair now bears, lived through profound historical change and carried with him a lifelong commitment to ethical traditions grounded in Confucian philosophy.
Born in Guangdong province in 1912, Dawson Lee’s life journey spanned mainland China, Hong Kong and, ultimately, Australia, where he became a respected figure in Sydney’s Chinese community. His commitment to education and cultural continuity is reflected in the academic achievements of multiple generations of his family at the University of Sydney.
Building a discipline with global reach
The Dawson Lee Chair in Chinese Culture was originally endowed by Mr James Lee, following an earlier contribution that established the prestigious Sydney China Visitors program through the Discipline of Chinese Studies in collaboration with the China Studies Centre. Together, these contributions have supported teaching, research and international engagement across a broad and evolving field.
Professor Avril Alba, Head of the School of Languages and Cultures, highlighted the strength and diversity of Chinese Studies at Sydney. The discipline spans areas including linguistics, pedagogy, media and society, social and political change, and East Asian thought. Professor Yingjie Guo also noted the strong student engagement in Chinese Studies.
Impact of philanthropy in action
Donor-supported initiatives in Chinese Studies, particularly the Sydney China Distinguished Fellowship program, has brought leading international academics annually to Sydney since 2018. The prestigious research program has since enriched research collaboration on Chinese culture and contributed to student learning experiences.
Professor Yingjie Guo
Dawson Lee Chair in Chinese Culture, School of Languages and Cultures
Partnerships shaped by shared purpose
The meeting also reflected the longstanding relationship between the Lee family and the University, including the academic journeys of their children – further embedding their connection to the institution.
Looking ahead, discussions at the meeting explored opportunities for growth within the discipline, including expanding research capacity, teaching programs and global partnerships.
By honouring Mr Dawson Lee’s legacy, the University of Sydney reinforces its commitment to advancing Chinese cultural scholarship and the important role philanthropy plays in supporting teaching and research for future generations.
Photo (left to right): Professor Avril Alba, Head of School of Languages and Cultures; Professor Lisa Adkins, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; Mrs Monica Lee and Mr James Lee; Professor Yingjie Guo, Dawson Lee Chair in Chinese Culture, Discipline of Chinese Studies