Leigh graduated from WesternWashingtonUniversity with degrees in Psychology and German. She also spent two years with Americorps, and has worked as a tutor and volunteer coordinator for at-risk youth. Leigh joined Advocates for the West in 2009, working both as a paralegal and assisting the Executive Director with development and outreach. Leigh credits her children, her father (Pat Ford), and growing up in Idaho as her primary inspirations for becoming an environmental advocate.