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Halima Leak Francis, Ph.D.
Founding Director & Professor - John Lewis Public Administration Program at Tulane University, School of Professional Advancement
Halima Leak Francis, Ph.D. is a distinguished educator, practitioner, and scholar with over 20 years of experience in strengthening capacity, sustainability, and equitable practices within nonprofits, philanthropy, and higher education administration.1
Academic Background and Roles
Dr. Leak Francis holds a B.A. in English from Hampton University, an M.A. in Sociology of Education, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.12
Currently, she serves as:
- The Carnegie Corporation of NY Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at Tulane's Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking.135
- Founding Director and Professor of Practice for the John Lewis Public Administration Program at Tulane University's School of Professional Advancement.47
Professional Achievements
At Tulane SoPA, Dr. Leak Francis:
- Led the development of the Public Administration program
- Steered curriculum design
- Recruited nationally accomplished faculty
- Secured accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Tripled initial enrollment projections for the program1
Previous Experience
Before joining Tulane, Dr. Leak Francis worked with:
- Texas Muslim Women's Foundation
- CUNY School of Professional Studies
- New York University
- Barnard College
- Communities in Schools of Wake County (North Carolina)1
Community Involvement
Dr. Leak Francis is actively involved in various community initiatives:
- Founding co-chair of the HERitage Giving Fund
- Tulane History Project co-chair
- Greater New Orleans Foundation's Impact 100 co-chair
- Foundation for Louisiana board member1
She is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and prioritizes advancing systemic equity and inclusion through her volunteer work.1
Additional Endeavors
Dr. Leak Francis co-hosts a podcast called "For Our Edification" with Eddie Francis, which focuses on personal leadership stories to inspire growth and development.68
