Margaret McLeod Leef

Margaret McLeod Leef is an experienced writer and broadcaster with a focus on Appalachian culture and community engagement. Currently serving as a Folkways Reporter for WV Public Broadcasting since February 2022, Margaret develops audio stories for Inside Appalachia as part of the Appalachian Folkways Project. In addition to this role, Margaret contributes monthly features and profiles at the Charleston Gazette-Mail, exploring the intersection of food and culture. As a co-founder of Charleston Reads, Margaret leads discussions to promote the city's first city-wide book initiative. With a background as a youth arts advocate and grant writer for the Children’s Theatre of Charleston, Margaret has also co-hosted a community radio show at WTSQ Radio, contributed as a substitute teacher focusing on English Literature, and held roles in development writing and editing at OuttaSite, Inc. and West Virginia Quarterly Magazine. Margaret holds a Bachelor of Science degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Vermont.