Leila Watkins

Leila Watkins currently serves as the Senior Program Manager for Medical Center Development on the Cancer Team at Stanford University School of Medicine. Prior to this role, Leila was the Director of Development at CASA of San Mateo County, focusing on fundraising strategies to support youth in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. Leila also held the position of Director of Development at CollegeSpring, where responsibilities included leading fundraising efforts to provide test preparation for low-income students, as well as managing relationships with funders. Earlier experiences include roles as Development and Communications Manager and Grant Writer at CollegeSpring, and academic positions such as Assistant Professor at Western Kentucky University and Graduate Instructor at the University of Michigan. Leila earned a PhD in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan and a BA in the same field from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.