leigh schmitt

Leigh began her career as a computer systems analyst for the banking industry, where she witnessed many cases of toxic workplace culture. This led her to getting her doctorate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Tulane, focused on the study of Occupational Health. She did some management consulting, but spent the most of her career in academics, training the next generation of human resource professionals.

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From childhood, her inspiration for labor advocacy came from her parents’ background in industrial relations. Her Dad was a local Chairman and state legislative advocate for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. She was allowed to observe meetings with national union leaders leaders held at conferences and in her own living room, where she learned the extent to which physical and mental safety was a critical factor that impacted individual workers, crews, the company, and the communities served. 

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Her own training in legislative advocacy came from a decade of efforts working with campaign finance reform organizations, animal advocacy efforts, and other progressive political projects. She hopes to share the lessons she has learned over the years to help us pass DAWA.