With over 20 years of diverse experience spanning art law, retail, small business ownership and nonprofit leadership, Leigh has developed a comprehensive skill set ideally suited to translating research and innovation into impactful solutions for broader societal benefit.

Her expertise lies in identifying pressure points, process improvement, mentoring, strategic problem-solving and the ability to integrate and translate complex ideas across organizational boundaries. She has a Juris Doctor (JD) in Soft IP from George Mason University, a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from UNC Asheville and a certificate in Contemplative Psychotherapy from the Nalanda Institute. These credentials enable her to approach challenges from multidisciplinary perspectives, offering holistic and strategic solutions.

In her career, she is deeply committed to actualizing strategic initiatives, with a focus on optimizing processes that lead to successful outcomes. Her passion for empowering others drives her work, and she strives to inspire teams and individuals to realize their full potential. She is excited about the opportunity to lead research and innovation efforts that translate academic discoveries into real-world impact.