Dr. Janet Leslie

Dr. Leslie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Brooklyn College, a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College, and a Doctorate of Management from the University of Maryland University College. Her academic and administrative interests and research focus concentrates on mentoring non-traditional students and students of color within a higher education environment. She served as a senior administrator for City University of New York (CUNY) for three decades before retiring from her full-time position in 2011. 

In 2003 Janet began working as an adjunct professor at CUNY/Kingsborough Community College in the Behavioral Sciences and Human Services Department where she continues to teach and mentor students in the Education Program. Presently, she is also an adjunct at CUNY/ School for Labor and Urban Studies (SLU), where she serves as the Coordinator for the Joseph S. Murphy Scholarship for Diversity in Labor. In her professional capacity as coordinator of SLU’s Diversity Scholarship, she disseminates information to students of color about scholarships and funding opportunities at SLU. In accordance with her personal desire to be of support to students on their academic journeys, in 2009 Janet began a small start-up business, the Gift of Experience, LLC. The Gift of Experience is an entrepreneurial venture with a mission to offer mentoring services, identify higher educational opportunities, and connect graduate and doctoral candidates to funding and academic resources. 

 Janet had the pleasure of serving as the president of the Business and Professional Women of Staten Island from 2003-2004 and is currently an active member of several community-based organizations including: the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. North Shore-Staten Island Section (legacy-life member), Chair of the Achievers Award Scholarship Committee); Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc. (member), Staten Island OutLOUD (member, Advocacy Council), and the Staten Island Museum (member, Gala Committee). 

 Janet is an avid reader, enjoys writing, and travels frequently. She believes travel enhances one’s ability to reflectively and holistically appreciate the human condition, and that travelling aids in placing one’s self---in context---in a complex and diverse world. Over the years she has been fortunate and blessed to travel throughout the United States as well as to the Bahamas, Canada, England, Finland, France, India, Nicaragua, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Spain, and Sweden.