Simon Lee

Simon Lee is a Policy Analyst at the Institute for Youth in Policy, where he contributes to policy briefs on current events with a focus on social equity and systemic reform.

A junior at Avon High School in Connecticut, Simon founded and serves as ambassador for JA High School Heroes, bringing financial literacy programming to his local public schools and youth community. The program grew out of his own experience competing in national competitions like JA Future Bound, and a core belief that financial literacy is essential for young people to build their future.

Simon's policy interests center on criminal justice reform, particularly the economics of mass incarceration and for-profit prisons. He currently serves as a campaign intern for State Representative Eleni Kavros DeGraw, doing grassroots outreach to fight for the issues he cares about in his own hometown. Beyond YIP, Simon is involved with Civics Unplugged as part of the fellowship alum network, working on civic engagement projects. Additionally, he has qualified for FBLA Nationals in both Economics and Public Administration, placing #2 (Economics) and #3 (Public Administration) respectively in Connecticut, and competed at the FBLA National Leadership Conference. He also competed at the JA Future Bound Stock Market Nationals, placing #21 in the country.

Outside of policy, Simon referees youth flag football, volunteers at a local Korean school in his community, and throws javelin for his school's track and field team. He plans to study law and economics in college.