Lee H Igel

Lee H. Igel is a Clinical Professor at the NYU Tisch Institute for Global Sport. His work focuses on innovations and impacts of sports in cities.

For more than a decade, Igel has headed an NYU initiative with the United States Conference of Mayors that studies sports in cities across the country. The partnership has produced more than 250 research and consulting projects that support social and economic growth through sports-led development. Findings are shared with leaders in municipal government, professional sports, business, and the non-profit sector.

Since joining the NYU faculty in 2004, Igel has designed and taught more than 40 courses across graduate and undergraduate programs. He has led global field intensives at NYU London, NYU Berlin, and NYU Madrid, and taught in the J-Term at NYU Abu Dhabi, using the cities as a laboratory for learning.

Beyond the classroom, Igel works on special projects between NYU New York and NYU Abu Dhabi that use sport as a starting point for bringing together decision-makers, thought leaders, and the public to address topics of national and international interest. He has also served as a Global Research Institute fellow at NYU Tel Aviv, exploring how the city's startup ecosystem can promote social impact, economic development, and regional cooperation.

Igel is an associate in the Medical Ethics division at NYU Langone Health, where he contributes on research and policy guidance related to sport, physical activity, mental wellness, and public wellbeing.

Before joining NYU, Igel oversaw integrated health programs for senior executives, elite athletes, and celebrity entertainers at La Palestra in New York City. His career began in sports medicine and player development in major league professional and top-level amateur sports, drawing on a bachelor's degree in physiology and a master's degree in counseling. He holds a doctorate in industrial/organizational psychology.

Igel often writes about business and social issues in sports. His insights appear as a contributor to Forbes and in articles for major news, industry, and scientific publications. He also writes long-form profiles on the decisions that major sports leagues, teams, and executives make to support their fans, employees, partners, and communities.