Leah Spelman

Executive Director, Partnerships for Trauma Recovery in Berkeley, CA

Ms. Spelman brings a background in human rights, organizational leadership, and global mental health to PTR. Prior to joining the PTR team, Ms. Spelman was the Chief Operating Officer for Days for Girls International, where she helped expand the organization’s global impact. She oversaw the organization’s growth from 60 to 1,000+ Chapters, the development of a new monitoring and evaluation program, and communications and fundraising efforts. Prior to Days for Girls, Ms. Spelman lived in Jordan, conducting research under a Fulbright Grant when Syrian refugees first began entering the country in large waves. There, she witnessed the challenges of meeting basic needs for refugees in a country with already limited access to water and agricultural land. Ms. Spelman has an MPH in Global Health from the University of Washington, with a focus on global mental health and culturally-aware approaches to trauma care. She holds a BA in International Affairs with a concentration in Middle East Studies from George Washington University, and speaks Arabic, Spanish, and French.