professional bio

Leah Dozier Walker currently serves an Executive Vice President at Waterford.org, a national early education non-profit whose programs reach over 300,000 children in 43 states each year. At Waterford.org, she leads the development and implementation of Waterford's strategy while ensuring alignment of organizational priorities to advance inclusive excellence across all operational domains.

Leah is also the founder and serves as principal consultant at Modern Impact Solutions, an innovative professional services practice providing an array of strategy, management, communications, and DEI advising consultation to corporate, non-profit, education, and public sector organizations and executives. Prior to this, Leah served as the first ever Director for Equity and Community Engagement at the Virginia Department of Education where she spearheaded education policy development and professional learning programs to advance culturally responsive educator practices.

As a sought after thought partner and public speaker, Leah is recognized for her communication savvy, oral presentations, community relations expertise and steadfast commitment to excellence. A transformational leader, she has pioneered innovative engagement strategies, elevated discourse on signature initiatives and programs for executive branch agencies, and driven organizational strategy and accountability systems to achieve impactful outcomes.

With a personal and professional dedication to equitable and inclusive impact, Leah possesses more than twenty years of leadership experience across the non-profit and human services portfolio. Leah has served as an administrator, consultant and advisor to: Virginia Commonwealth University, YMCA - Richmond, Local School Districts, Mayor Jones Administration in the City of Richmond, Governor Kaine at the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Virginia Democratic Caucus in the House of Delegates, the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and its Foundation, Richmond City Council, and Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott.  She is a current appointed Trustee for the Virginia Commonwealth University Foundation and serves on a variety of education and human services advisory committees.

In 2018, Style Weekly named Leah to its annual "Power List" as one of the most influential people in education in the Richmond region followed by Virginia Commonwealth University naming her to its annual "Alumni Power List" in 2019.

A proud HBCU graduate, Leah is a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Hampton University, and a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. She resides in central Virginia with her two daughters and one feisty chihuahua.