Jorja Leap

Jorja Leap has been a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Luskin School of Public Affairs since 1992, specializing in social welfare. As an anthropologist and expert on gangs, violence, and trauma, they develop and direct community-based participatory research to inform practice and policy. Currently, Jorja serves as the Executive Director of the UCLA Social Justice Research Partnership and is co-founder of the Watts Leadership Institute, where they work with community leaders to strengthen local capacity. Jorja holds multiple degrees from UCLA, including a PhD in Anthropology and an M.S.W. in Social Welfare.