[1] She received her PhD from the University of Michigan and is professor emeritus of cultural anthropology, human ecology, economic anthropology, and religion at Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
[2][3] Susan has performed field research around the world in places such as Mexico, Peru, Brazil, and Israel on historical changes to irrigation in agriculture.
[2] Her early work was largely centered around farming communities and how irrigation in agriculture can impact society and facilitate the emergence of conflict and relationships between groups.
[8] This research looks at things like gentrification and education, as well as labor control and governmental power.
[2] In 1976, Lee became editor of Human Ecology, following the retirement of its founder Andrew P. Vayda.