Research and Teaching Interests

Dr. Leith strongly believes in promoting students’ deep learning for two purposes: To help them succeed as professionals and, more importantly, to prepare them for unanticipated future challenges in their work with people who most need their help. She is particularly interested in weaving together my practice experience with my teaching to expand the knowledge base and skill set of future practitioners. She hopes to improve students’ overall learning experience by infusing and integrating their theoretical knowledge base with practical hands-on, experiential learning, better preparing them for their careers. Dr. Leith sets high expectations, in hopes that she will encourage students to push beyond their own limitations even after the semester ends. She hopes to instill in students the understanding that achieving social justice requires them to take risks because “we often cannot see the change on the horizon unless we are willing to stick our necks out.”