

University of California, Irvine, Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy (Ph.D., 2021)
Seoul National University, Landscape Architecture and Rural System Engineering (M.A., 2013)
Kook-Min University, Forest Environmental System (B.S., 2011)
Urban Information and Research Institute, Founder & Research Director (2025-2026)
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Center for Economic Development, Research Associate (2023-2025)
The Pennsylvania State University, Population Research Institute, Postdoctoral Scholar (2021-2023)
Nana Kirk Travel Scholarship, Environmental Design Research Association (2021)
Gene Carte Student Paper Award, 1st Place, American Society of Criminology (2020)
Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship, University of California, Irvine (2020)
Miki Vohryzek-Bolden Student Paper Award, 1st Place, Western Society of Criminology (2020)
June Morrison Travel Scholarship, Western Society of Criminology (2020)
Travel Grant, Associated Graduate Students, University of California, Irvine (2020)
School of Social Ecology Dean’s Advancement Fellowship, University of California, Irvine (2018)
Merit-Based Award for Five Academic Years, Department of Policy, Planning, and Design, University of California, Irvine (2015-2020)
Best Paper Award, Annual Academic Conference of the Korean Landscape Council (2013)
Engineer Landscape Architecture (조경기사) (2011)
Scholarship for Academic Excellence, Kook-Min University (2009)
Scholarship for Academic Excellence, Kook-Min University (2008)
Admission with Scholarship, Kook-Min University (2006)
PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES
Lee, N. (2026). Understanding urban walking in Los Angeles: A large language model approach using geotagged social media data. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 1-15.
Lee, N. (2026). Evaluating third places, walkability, and positive mood in Los Angeles, USA: Using social media data. Cities & Health, 10(3), 1151-1165.
Lee, N., & Houston, D. (2024). The perceived psychological benefits of third places for university students before and after COVID-19 lockdowns. Cities, 153, 105299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.105299
Lee, N. (2022). Third place and psychological well-being: The psychological benefits of eating and drinking places for university students in Southern California, USA. Cities, 131, 104049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.104049
Lee, N., & Contreras, C. (2021). Neighborhood walkability and crime: Does the relationship vary by crime type? Environment and Behavior, 53, 753-786. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916520921843
Lee, N., Lee, J., & Lim, S. (2013). A study on perception difference about Korean traditional factors between Koreans and foreigners. Korean Landscape Council, 5, 47-58.
Ahn, T., Lee, J., Kim, B., Yoon, H., Son, S., Yoo, C., Lee, N., Lee, J., & Kim, H. (2013). An analysis of thermal comforts for pedestrians by WBGT measurement on the urban street greens. Journal of Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture, 41, 22-30.
BOOK CHAPTERS
Lee, N. (2019). Roof gardens as alternative urban green spaces: A three-part study on their restorative quality in Seoul, South Korea. In M. A. Burayidi, J. Twigg, A. Allen, & C. Wamsler (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Urban Resilience (pp. 411-429). Routledge.
RESEARCH REPORTS & POLICY BRIEFS
Lee, N., & Rast, J. (2024). Measuring Neighborhood Socioeconomic Performance in Milwaukee, 1980-2020: An Index-Based Approach.
Marantz, N. J., Houston, D., Kim, J. H., Lee, N., O’Neill, M., Biber, E., & Gualco-Nelson, G. (2022). Factors Affecting Development Decisions and Construction Delay of Housing in Transit-Accessible and Jobs-Rich Areas in California. University of California Institute of Transportation Studies.
Houston, D., Biber, E., Gualco-Nelson, G., Kim, J. H., O’Neill, M., Lee, N., & Marantz, N. (2022). What Can Be Done to Speed Up Building Approval for Multifamily Housing in Transit-Accessible Locations? Policy Brief. University of California Institute of Transportation Studies.
The Impacts of HUD Housing Assistance Programs and Neighborhood Violence on Child Health and Well-being (2023-현재)
A Research-Based Approach to Enhance Understanding of Racial and Economic Inequity in Milwaukee (2023-2025)
The Impact of Housing Assistance on Residential Environmental Exposure (2021-2023)
Factors Affecting Development Decisions and Construction Delay of Housing in Transit-Accessible and Jobs-Rich Areas in California (2020-2021)
Lee, N., & Houston, D. (2024). The Psychological Benefits of Third Places Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Lockdowns. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.
Lee, N. (2023). Using Deep Neural Networks for Crime Prediction Models: Limitations and Potentials. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
Lee, N. (2021). Understanding the Psychological Benefits of Walkable and Accessible Neighborhoods Using Social Media. Paper presented at the virtual annual meeting of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.
Lee, N. (2021). Accessible and Walkable Neighborhoods and Psychological Well-Being: Analyzing the Relationship Using Social Media. Paper presented at the virtual annual meeting of the Environmental Design Research Association, Detroit, MI.
Lee, N., & Contreras, C. (2020). Neighborhood Walkability and Crime: Does the Relationship Vary by Crime Type? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Society of Criminology, Phoenix, AZ.
Contreras, C., Hipp, J. R., & Lee, N. (2020). An Egohood-Level Analysis of Heroin Abuse and Violent Victimization. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Society of Criminology, Phoenix, AZ.
Contreras, C., Hipp, J. R., & Lee, N. (2019). Spatializing the Drugs/Violence Nexus: Linking Heroin Abuse with Neighborhood Violence. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, San Francisco, CA.
Lee, N., & Contreras, C. (2019). A Geospatial Analysis of Walkability and Crime on Los Angeles City Blocks. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Urban Affairs Association, Los Angeles, CA.
“How Can We Make Urban Environments Safe, Livable, and Healthy?”
Marquette University, Department of Social and Cultural Sciences (2025)
“How Can We Make Urban Environments Safe, Livable, and Healthy?”
Florida Atlantic University, Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice (2025)
“Place and Health: Third Place and Psychological Well-Being”
University of Oklahoma (2024), Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design
“Environmental Criminology ? Crime Pattern Theory”
University of Massachusetts Boston, Department of Sociology and Criminology, Undergraduate Class (2021)
“Accessible and Walkable Neighborhoods and Psychological Well-Being: Analyzing the Relationship Using Social Media”
Pennsylvania State University, School of Public Policy, Fall Speaker Series (2021)