Michael Lee and Helen Yang

MS Chemical Engineering, 1984 & PhD Chemical Engineering, 1987
MS Chemical Engineering, 1986 & PhD Chemical Engineering, 1988

Michael Lee and Helen Yang have built distinguished careers as global business leaders, leveraging their experience and training in chemical engineering into executive roles at DuPont and Honeywell. At Illinois, Michael studied droplet deposition in two-phase flow and Helen studied the kinetics of the uncatalyzed and homogeneously catalyzed oxidization of p-chlorophenol in supercritical water.

After graduating with their PhDs, both Michael and Helen worked as research engineers for DuPont. Their careers grew to span sales and marketing, industrial applications, business, management and leadership, and global strategy. Prior to retirement, Michael served as Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for Asia Pacific at Honeywell, and Helen the Global Program Director for Electronics and Imaging at DuPont.

Michael and Helen continue to share their expertise through executive coaching and board membership for several nonprofit organizations. They are generous supporters of scholarships and graduate student fellowships in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

We asked Michael and Helen to reflect on their time at Illinois and how it has shaped their professional and philanthropic endeavors:

Why did you choose to attend Illinois for your graduate degrees?

The University of Illinois offered the best combination of academic excellence and personal fit. Illinois had one of the top-ranked chemical engineering graduate programs in the country, with each faculty member being a recognized leader in their respective field. In addition, both of us were fortunate to be awarded a full scholarship and stipend for all of our years there, which allowed us to focus fully on learning and research. When we visited the campus, the faculty and ChE graduate students were exceptionally welcoming, giving us a strong sense of community and a true family feeling within the department.

Is there a professor, staff member, or friend that left a lasting impact on you?

For Michael, two professors who left a lasting impact were Dr. Thomas Hanratty from Chemical Engineering and Dr. Ronald Adrian from Mechanical Engineering, who served as his thesis advisors. For Helen, it was Dr. Charles Eckert, her thesis advisor and Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at that time. These three professors were instrumental in shaping our approach to scientific problem solving and rigorous data analysis and interpretation. They challenged us to think deeply, question assumptions, and connect theory with experimental evidence. Their guidance went far beyond technical expertise—they modeled intellectual discipline, curiosity, and integrity in research.

What are your favorite memories from Illinois?

Our favorite memories are a mix of everyday moments and special experiences. We still remember enjoying sweet corn in the summer, weekend football tailgate parties in the fall, deep-dish pizza nights, and spontaneous weekend escapes to Chicago. Even the frigid Illinois winters—though not our favorite—are unforgettable. Illinois also holds a special place in our memory because we were married there when we were halfway through our graduate programs. One fun story that Michael often shares is that his office in the Department of Chemical Engineering was once the office of former GE Chairman and CEO Jack Welch—a small but inspiring connection to Illinois’ remarkable legacy.

Tell us a bit about your journey since your time at Illinois (jobs, passion projects, etc.)

We were fortunate to have been able to build diverse and rewarding careers. Both of us gained broad functional experience, such as R&D, Sales, Marketing, Strategy, Supply Chain, and Six Sigma, relatively early in our careers working for DuPont in various locations in the U.S. We then moved to China to take on business and functional leadership roles with responsibility for Asia Pacific for DuPont. Michael later transitioned smoothly to Honeywell, taking on new challenges as Vice President and General Manager of the Sensing & Control Asia Pacific business, followed by another VPGM role in Energy & Environmental Solutions and a VP role in Business and Commercial Excellence. Before retiring, Michael served as Chief Commercial Officer for Honeywell Building Technologies Asia Pacific.

What achievement(s) in your life are you most proud of?

Our achievements span both our personal and professional lives. We have been happily married for 40 years, ever since we were graduate students at Illinois. Professionally, we had the privilege of working across multiple functions and diverse cultures in the U.S., Asia Pacific, and globally.  After retiring, Michael successfully transitioned into executive coaching, drawing on over 30 years of hands-on leadership experience to help more than 100 executives across 50 companies overcome challenges and elevate their impact. In retirement, Helen is giving back to society by serving on the boards of several non-profit organizations to advance their mission as well as being an active and involved member in the community.

What inspired you to give back to Illinois?

Our inspiration stems from gratitude and a sense of responsibility. We both personally benefited from the generosity of others through full scholarships and stipends, which allowed us to focus entirely on our studies without financial concerns. That support enabled us to have rich and rewarding professional and personal lives. We want to do our part to make it possible for future generations of graduate students to thrive and succeed as well. In doing so, we also help ensure that the chemical engineering graduate program remains one of the top programs in the world, continuing its tradition of excellence, innovation, and impact, by attracting the most talented students.

What advice would you give Illinois alumni to succeed in a global job market?

Our advice is to always strive to be your best and become a standout in whatever role you take on. Have the courage to confront failure rather than run away from it—adversity is often the greatest teacher. Avoid a victim mentality and cultivate a growth mindset, staying open to learning and change. Think long-term by identifying the skills needed for your next role and developing them early. Opportunities may not always align with your original plan, so stay flexible and embrace roles that build critical capabilities. Furthermore, get exposure to diverse cultures and different ways of doing things through international assignments or travel, because the broader your exposure, the more expansive your thinking and perspective will become.