Leah Kessler, Lead Program Volunteer
Founder of RISE (she/her/hers)

Leah Kessler is a DC–based public servant focused on climate resilience, disaster recovery, and building equitable public institutions and policies that serve communities effectively. As a 2023 Presidential Management Fellow, Leah served in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Disaster Recovery and at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where she worked as Special Assistant and Equity Advisor to the Deputy Administrator. In February 2025, Leah’s federal service was cut short during a broad dismissal of probationary employees — an experience that underscored both the fragility of our institutions and the need for more resilient infrastructure.

She now works at Hagerty Consulting as a disaster response professional, supporting communities recovering from disasters and developing climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Leah holds a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.A. in Public Policy and Biology from the University of Chicago.