VISUAL INFORMATION SPECIALIST
Graphic Design  |  Video Production  |  Photography  |  Live Streaming  | Event Design  |  Communications

ABOUT ME

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Hi, I’m Leigh! Until recently, I was a Lead Visual Designer & Photo/Video Production Specialist at USAID, where I was the longest serving member of the PLR Bureau Comms Team. Prior to USAID, I worked for the U.S. Department of State for seven years, having started as an intern in 2012. In addition to that, I’ve been pursuing my passion for design through volunteer work, part-time jobs, and occasional freelance since 2006.

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One of my favorite moments from my time USAID was getting the opportunity to represent USAID at the 79th UN General Assembly in October of 2024. You can see some of my photography and video work from that trip on my UNGA 2024 portfolio page.

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Additionally my favorite work-related claim-to-fame is that actor Leonardo DiCaprio & former Secretary of State John Kerry both personally tweeted out a graphic I designed for the 2016 #OurOceans Campaign. On top of that, having five former Secretaries of State interact with, and give speeches in front of my design work as part of the grand opening ceremony for the U.S. Diplomacy Center is an experience I will never forget!

 

With nearly two decades of experience in government, private sector, and non-profit work, I bring a wealth of unique knowledge in visual design strategy, accessibility compliance, branding, photography, video, live streaming, event coordination, and more!

 

Outside of work, I love to go skiing, hiking, paddleboarding, and traveling as much as possible! I’m also very active in the DC/MD/ VA theater scene. I’ve performed in13 different plays and musicals; designed sets, props, and costumes for more productions than I can count; and have directed two plays and one musical. I have received multiple nominations and awards for my work, but I’m most proud of my Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH Awards) for “Best Play” and “Best Director of a Play” for my 2020 production of Perfect Arrangement, a play centering around the real-life persecution of the LGBTQ+ community in 1950 at the U.S. Department of State, also known as “The Lavender Scare.”

 

I originally hail from Montgomery, Alabama, but have lived in NW Washington, DC since 2012, accompanied by my grumpy old Himalayan cat, Rupert.​