Leah’s interest in social justice work sparked as a teen growing up in the “Paper Valley,” a section of the Fox River in northeastern Wisconsin with the highest concentration of paper mills in the world. When she was in high school, a 39-mile stretch of the river she often played in as a kid was designated as a Superfund Site by the EPA from unregulated dumping by the paper industry. Ten years later, in 2009, she found her home at ACE. She was inspired by the mission and felt called to help lift up the voices of young people on the frontlines of climate and environmental injustice.

Leah has had the unique experience of working to build ACE and CEA from the ground up, helping them grow into national leaders in youth climate education and engagement. Before becoming Executive Director, Leah served as Deputy Director and Communications and Marketing Director. Before ACE, Leah worked with Global Impact, an international federation of charities based in the Washington DC area. She and her husband, Sunil, live in Milwaukee with their two fantastic kids.