For our March Member of the Month, we interviewed superstar member Joey Lee! Read on to learn more about him.
Tell us about yourself! It can be about anything – where you grew up, your professional background, your hobbies, etc.
Hello TAP friends! My name is Joey. I’m a professor at Columbia University who designs and studies games for learning and social impact. I’m interested in using interactive media and experiential technologies like virtual reality and games as a way to teach various topics — or to raise awareness of problems in the world like climate change or racism. I love playing guitar and ukulele, exploring the city, traveling around East Asia during summer break, enjoying good coffee and going on ramen adventures.
Why did you join TAP? What are your favorite events?
TAP is a wonderful community — it’s important to stay connected in New York City and make friends with good people. People in TAP are friendly and inclusive, and can be inspiring to talk to as you learn about their passion and work. My favorite TAP events are probably the Lunar New Year banquet, Game Nights, dance classes and of course the TAPpy hours!
Are there any projects you are working on?
Along with some educational game projects, I’m working on some websites about icebreaker/group games, education and VR and some projects related to Asian identity. Feel free to reach out if you have similar interests! Also, just for fun, I have an Asian food blog – please share with me your recommendations for places to try!
What’s your favorite Taiwanese food and why? What’s your go-to restaurant?
Beef noodle soup (牛肉麵) and xiao long bao (小籠包), especially from Din Tai Fung.
What’s your advice for newer members who want to get more involved?
There are so many amazingly talented people in TAP — folks who are entrepreneurial, smart, kind and funny. Come check out the various events, get connected, and talk to new people — I think you can learn a lot from anyone and get a lot out of the experiences and friendships made.