Professor Newton Lee is a renowned technologist, author, and educator whose career bridges the worlds of cybersecurity, education, digital innovation, and creative media. As the founding president of the nonprofit Institute for Education, Research, and Scholarships (IFERS) in Los Angeles, Lee champions interdisciplinary initiatives that advance technology, public safety, and academic excellence.
A former engineer for both The Walt Disney Company and Bell Labs, Lee has combined technical acumen with creative vision for decades. At Disney, he co-developed over 100 online games and 12 bestselling, award-winning interactive titles—including Toontown, Pirates Online, The Lion King Animated Storybook and Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree—the latter two were featured in Billboard Magazine. He later expanded his creative reach into the music industry, executive producing dance-pop tracks that have been featured on American Idol and charted on U.S. Billboard, U.K. Music Week, and U.S. iTunes HOT 100.
In the realm of national security and public service, Lee is a 2021 graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy and currently serves as an FBI Ambassador. He is an international thought leader on cybersecurity, counterterrorism, social media, campus safety, and mental health—topics deeply explored in his highly acclaimed Total Information Awareness book series published by Springer Nature. His work has been praised by Newsweek, AdWeek, ACM Computing Reviews, and Choice Magazine for its bold insights and global relevance.
Professor Lee’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including:
- The Michigan Leading Edge Technologies Award
- Two Community Development Awards from the California Junior Chamber of Commerce
- Four Volunteer Leadership Awards from The Walt Disney Company
As a visionary with over 200 publications and a mission for global impact, Newton Lee inspires innovation at the intersection of technology, public good, and creative expression. At Digital Viking, he brings a wealth of experience to the firm’s consulting efforts—helping clients navigate complex digital landscapes with foresight, responsibility, and imagination.
Professor Newton Lee collaborated closely with fellow Digital Viking, David King, during their tenure at The Walt Disney Company, where they led and executed highly complex engineering initiatives across cutting-edge digital platforms. Professor Lee’s multidisciplinary expertise spans software engineering, advanced web platform development, game mechanics, UX/UI design, digital entertainment, and cybersecurity—skills that were critical in developing interactive technologies and engaging user experiences for some of Disney’s most iconic digital properties.
His unique ability to integrate technical precision with creative storytelling allowed him to not only build immersive products but also lead cross-functional teams through high-stakes projects in fast-paced, innovation-driven environments. In addition to his technical capabilities, Professor Lee brings a deep passion for education, mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving—attributes that elevate the strategic capabilities of the Digital Viking team.
With a profound understanding of audience behavior, user psychology, and digital ecosystems, Professor Lee plays a pivotal role in shaping project strategies and execution plans. Whether addressing software architecture, user engagement models, or data security protocols, he approaches each challenge with a comprehensive, user-centric perspective. His experience ensures that every solution developed by Digital Viking is both technically sound and aligned with the specific needs, goals, and expectations of its intended audience.