Leanne joined Education First in 2024 as an Executive Assistant. For more than twenty years, she worked in higher education, supporting leaders, developing programs and policies, and alleviating the administrative burdens of those around her. She loves to learn and take on new projects, which has given her opportunities to work in a variety of areas within academia, including study abroad, law, social work, research administration, community engagement, and human resources.
Having also worked to communicate academic research to non-academic audiences, Leanne understands the challenges of translating evidence and experience to practice, the significant resources required to implement change in complex organizations and the importance of centering people in problem-solving. Her work with Education First executives and teams increase their capacity to partner with organizations on designing and implementing solutions. She is passionate about supporting her colleagues in expanding access to equitable, high-quality education.
Leanne earned a B.A. in studio art and art history from Christopher Newport University and a M.Ed. in higher education administration from Auburn University. She lives in Auburn, Alabama, with her husband and two rescue dogs. When not in the office, you’ll find Leanne traveling, at a concert, or marveling at the pageantry of sporting events in a college town.
