Leah Abate

Leah Abate has extensive work experience in various roles, primarily focused on equity, community impact, and program management.

From 2018 to the present, Leah has been working at the Foundation for California Community Colleges. Leah started as a Program Assistant and progressed to become a Senior Program Manager. In this role, Leah provided oversight and project coordination for the Foundation's Community Impact programs, managed multiple projects and staff, and performed quality assurance functions. Leah then transitioned to the role of Associate Director, where they served as a member of the Equity and Community Impact department's leadership team and drove strategies to support a work environment of excellence and shared leadership. Leah provided expertise in program development, implementation, monitoring outcomes, stakeholder engagement, and other activities in support of the Guided Pathways framework and Vision for Success. Currently, Leah holds the position of Director, Equity & Community Impact, where they continue to drive strategies to achieve the Foundation's double impact goal by 2028.

In 2018, Leah also briefly worked at New Directions in Computing as an Operations Consulting & Project Management professional.

Prior to that, Leah worked at Women's Economic Ventures (WEV) from 2006 to 2018, starting as a Program Assistant and progressing to Program Coordinator and eventually becoming the WBC Director/Program Manager. In these roles, they played a key role in developing strategic marketing plans, implementing digital and traditional advertising, managing disaster recovery efforts for small businesses, and collaborating with elected officials.

In summary, Leah Abate has a diverse work experience spanning program management, equity, community impact, and marketing. Leah has demonstrated strong leadership skills, expertise in strategic planning, and the ability to drive initiatives to achieve organizational goals.

Leah Abate holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Global Studies from UC Santa Barbara. Additionally, they have obtained certifications such as Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) from the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children in May 2015, and they have also graduated from Leadership Santa Barbara County in May 2010.