We're all well aware of current threats to public health. Join YaleWomen Houston for an update on what to expect in the coming months and years. As Interim Executive Director for Harris County Public Health (HCPH), Leah Barton leads the nationally accredited public health agency for the nation’s third-largest county, serving 4.8 million people. Leah brings to HCPH a vision of building a more dynamic, vibrant, and resilient community, committed to improving public health outcomes, equity, and transparency.

In prior roles at Harris County, Leah served as Deputy County Administrator and as Managing Director of the Grants and Partnerships, overseeing the administration of $1B in COVID recovery funds made available through the American Rescue Plan Act. She also incubated cross-departmental functions including the Office of Early Childhood and homelessness response strategies.

Before joining the public sector, Leah's career spanned nearly 20 years in the energy industry, serving in commercial, IT, finance, marketing, and operations leadership roles at Centrica plc/Direct Energy, MXenergy, Shell Chemical LP, and Nuvera Fuel Cells. Leah was recognized as a "Woman Who Means Business in Energy" by the Houston Business Journal and began her career as a US Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania.

Leah is active in the Houston community, currently serving as Director of St. Paul’s United Methodist Foundation, as Advisory Board Member for ProUnitas, and as an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow. She previously served as Board Member of Child Advocates and Advisory Board Member of the UH Institute for Research on Women, Gender, and Sexuality, President of the Yale Club of Houston, and President of the Wharton Club of Houston. She was the founding board chair of EMERGE, a college access organization now serving thousands of students and graduates across the Houston region.

Leah earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Yale, a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School, and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. She is happily married to fellow Yale alum David Kim.

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