Dr. Derek J. Lee is an assitant professor in the Department of Clinical Counseling and Mental Health at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and a licensed professional counselor with more than 20 years of clinical and leadership experience. A suicidologist and founder of The Hope Institute, he specializes in evidence-based assessment and treatment of suicidality, trauma, addictions, and complex mental health disorders. Dr. Lee has developed and implemented specialized outpatient suicide treatment programs across multiple states, integrating research with clinical practice to improve acess to sucide-specific care. His research focuses on advancing evidence-based interventions and scalable models that bridge the gap between crisis intervention and long-term recovery. He is a frequent presenter dedicated to equipping counselors with practical strategies that improve outcomes for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation.