Leo D. Curran

Leo D. Curran has a diverse range of work experience, starting in 2003 as an Outdoor Education staff member at Camp Manito-wish YMCA. Leo then worked as a Long Term Substitute Teacher at Newman Catholic High School from 2005 to 2006. From 2006 to 2012, Leo worked at Pennsylvania State University in various roles, including Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant. During this time, they also worked as a Consultant for the CC LONG project, focusing on social learning and information exchange in Ghana.

In 2012, Leo joined the International START Secretariat as a Program Associate, managing grants and fellowship programs related to global environmental change. From 2015 to 2016, they worked as a Program Manager at The Nature Conservancy, overseeing the NatureNet Science Fellows program and implementing a science communication and leadership training program.

Leo then joined The Pew Charitable Trusts in 2016 as an Officer for the Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation and later became a Senior Officer for the Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation. In these roles, they developed training programs, provided strategic planning support, and organized collaborative events for fellows and alumni.

Most recently, in 2023, Leo started working at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences as the John E. Bryson Program Director in Science, Engineering, and Technology. In this role, they oversee projects exploring the impact of science and engineering on society and the environment, manages volunteer Commission Members, and designs and facilitates collaborative events.

Throughout their career, Leo has gained experience in project management, program development, training, facilitation, and strategic planning.

Leo D. Curran obtained their Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Environmental Studies, Communication and Media Studies from Macalester College, where they attended from 2001 to 2005. In 2004, they spent a brief period studying Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of Cape Town. Afterwards, Curran pursued their Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Geography from Penn State University, attending from 2006 to 2008. Leo then continued their studies at Penn State University, where they completed their Ph.D. in Geography from 2008 to 2013.