About Ken

Growing Up in New Jersey

Kenneth M. Lee was born on March 12, 1977. He was raised in Morristown, NJ and attended the Morris School District Public School System. He graduated from Morristown High School with a 4.0/4.0 GPA, top 10% of his class, and a member of the National Honor Society. During high school he served as student body vice president, liaison to the school board, captain for the Marching Colonials, chief technical director, actor, dancer, singer and musician.

Ken grew up as a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Morristown, where the Rev. Dr. Jerry M. Carter Jr. is pastor. While there in high school, Ken was the church’s first drummer, begriming a trend that led to a substantial musical department at the church.

Eight Years in University

In 1999, Ken graduated from Princeton University as a member of the class of 1999. While not studying his major, Chemical Engineering, he played with the Princeton University Band, of which he was a drummer, drill master, and president. Other time was spent eating at the Princeton Tower Club or playing drums for the Princeton Triangle Club. He did his undergraduate research with Pablo G. Debenedetti. Ken also got industrial experience by working seven internships throughout the ExxonMobil Corporation.

In 2003, Ken graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. His dissertation is titled Exploring Solvent Properties of Carbon Dioxide via Computer Simulation. He is advised by Isaac C. Sanchez. This is part of the National Science Foundation’s Science and Technology Center for Environmentally Responsible Solvents and Processes. He was also the Vice President of the Graduate Engineering Council and a Senator for the Senate of College Councils. He has also designed web pages for the Black Graduate Student Association and Thurgood Marshall Legal Society. While in Austin, Ken was under watch care at St. James Missionary Baptist Church. There, he was a member of the Audio/Visual staff and a member of the young adult bible study.

Life After College

Following graduation from UT, Ken moved to northern Virginia to begin (continue) his career with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering as an Advanced Engineer working on several cutting edge refining technology and supporting refineries around the world. Ken has also recruited engineers from Georgia Tech and Dual Degree Engineers from Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta. While in Virginia, Ken was a community member of the Georgetown Law School’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society (GG&SS). As a member of GG&SS, Ken enjoyed being a Stage Manager, Technical Director, Master Carpenter, Assistant Stage Manager, and chorus member over 9 consecutive plays and musicals.

In September 2006, Ken transferred to Texas to work for ExxonMobil Chemical in Baytown, TX. Ken started as a contact engineer and was later assigned as the Polypropylene Technical Section Supervisor in 2007. While in Houston, Ken volunteered with Houston’s Ensemble Theater as a carpenter and was a member of Fallbrook Church in Houston, TX.

In November 2008, Ken transferred again, this time to ExxonMobil Process Research, a part of ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, to manage the Process Modeling Department.  After 14 years of exile, Ken is back in NJ and happy to be close to family and friends in the area.

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