Leah Turner, Ph.D.

Vice President of Programs & Partnerships

Leah Turner (she/her) serves as the Vice President of Programs and Partnerships at Mission Capital, where she leads strategy, program development, and collaborative initiatives designed to amplify the impact of Central Texas changemakers. A social scientist and strategist by training, Leah brings deep expertise in data-informed program design, cross-sector partnership development, and organizational sustainability.

With over a decade of experience in higher education, she puts data to practice in the leadership of critical and complex initiatives, securing support from major stakeholders including the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and prominent players in the energy industry. Programs under her direction see racially underrepresented alumni in STEM pursuing these degrees, specifically geoscience, at a rate that significantly outperforms the national average.

Before joining Mission Capital, Leah served as director GeoSTEM Career Exploration and Workforce Development at the University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences, where she led nationally funded initiatives supported by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and key energy industry partners. Her research and leadership focused on building evidence-based programs that strengthen access, equity, and long-term success across education and workforce systems. Leah is also the Founder and Chief Impact Strategist of Broader Impact Partners, a consulting firm that helps mission-driven organizations translate insights into action through evaluation, strategic planning, and partnership strategy.

Leah earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from Ohio University and is passionate about building networks that empower the next generation of leaders in science, education, and community impact.