Leah Thompson was born in Iowa and grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. After earning her B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology from Agnes Scott, a small women’s liberal arts college in Decatur, Georgia, she joined the Peace Corps. For two years she taught English and HIV/AIDS prevention in Cameroon to middle school and high school students. After Leah returned to the United States, she worked as a substitute teacher before landing a job in refugee resettlement as a Program Manager for the International Rescue Committee in Washington, D.C., a position that she held for nearly five years. She then moved to Pittsburgh where she rekindled her love for teaching. Currently, Leah is the Assistant Director of Fifth Avenue Family Childcare Center at the Ellis School. She makes time to volunteer for Global Links, a nonprofit that recovers surplus medical supplies from U.S. hospitals for use in the developing world.

Leah had "amazing professional and personal experiences" on the 2010 staff team in Vietnam in addition to directing that program in 2011. She is thrilled to be returning to VISIONS Cambodia program this season as the Program Director. Leah loves to travel, read, try new ethnic foods, and cheer for her beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.