Lee received a bachelor degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1963 where he studied history and psychology and was interested in sports and business.
[2] Lee worked as a management trainee/industrial relations administrator at General Motors' Fisher Body Division from 1964 to 1965.
He was Vice President of Administration at Commercial Credit Industrial Corporation in suburban Washington, DC, from 1965 to 1971.
[citation needed] During Lee's tenure as president of Gallaudet, satellite campuses were established in Hawaii, Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
He had previously announced upon accepting the position of Gallaudet president that he was only serving on a temporary basis.