Nicole Rodriguez Leach

Hometown: New York, New York

Undergraduate Institution and Major:
Wesleyan University, BA in Anthropology

Graduate Institution and Major:
The New School – Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy, MS in Urban Policy Analysis and Management

Research Interests:
Nicole Rodriguez Leach’s research interests are broadly concerned with social policies and management practices at the nexus of education and criminal justice systems. More specifically, she is interested in policing in schools, processes of racialization, higher education programs in prison, incarceration and family demography, and the influence of philanthropy in public policy and administration. To date, Rodriguez Leach’s career has focused on fostering thriving and inclusive environments that promote child and family well-being, and she remains connected to nonprofit and school communities through board service. Her research interests build from these professional and volunteer experiences. Rodriguez Leach is particularly interested in applying mixed methods approaches and conducting community-informed research.

Teaching Experience:
Instructor of Record

• PUBAFRS 2120: Public Service and Civic Engagement, Fall 2022
• PUBAFRS 2150: Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations, Spring 2022

Graduate Teaching Assistant

• PUBAFRS 6080: Concepts and Methods of Program Evaluation, Spring 2021
• PUBAFRS 6500: Written and Oral Communication Skills, Fall 2020 and 2021
• PUBAFRS 7554: Online Master of Public Administration and Leadership (MPAL) Capstone, Spring 2021
• PUBAFRS 7574: Mixed Method Approaches for Policy-Related Research, Summer 2021
• PUBAFRS 7990: Performance Management in the Public Sector, Fall 2020 and 2021

Course Design

• Theories of Racial Justice in Public Administration (Doctoral Group Study), 2020-2021
• Critical Perspectives, Organizations and Social Change (Independent Doctoral Seminar), Summer 2020

Publications

• Scott, C.P. & Rodriguez Leach, N. (2024). Philanthropy as whiteness: Toward racially just philanthropic practices. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, 43(3), 516-530. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-06-2023-0202
• Scott, C. P., & Rodriguez Leach, N. (2024). Unveiling whiteness: An approach to expand equity and deepen Public Administration’s racial analysis. Administrative Theory & Praxis, 1–20.  https://doi.org/10.1080/10841806.2024.2305059

Relevant Professional Experience:

• Executive Director, Grantmakers for Education
• Vice President, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation & CSR Americas
• Program Officer, Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation
• Policy Analyst - The Children’s Aid Society, Girls Preparatory Charter School, Lawyers Alliance for Children
• Education Director, East Harlem Tutorial Program
• Teacher, Germantown Friends School

Honors & Awards:

• University Fellowship, Ohio State University, 2019
• Jacob M. Kaplan Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Urban Policy, The New School, 2011