Currently the Senior Program Manager for the Arabian Peninsula at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Leigh Catherine Miles has over a decade of experience in designing and managing democracy, governance and political education programs, predominantly in the Middle East and North Africa.  At NDI, she works with activists and political leaders across the Gulf States, Yemen and Iran to develop and strengthen democratic institutions in their countries, focusing on women’s political participation, parliamentary and local governance, political party development, citizen participation and advocacy, and campaigns and elections. 

Prior to joining NDI in 2005, Ms. Miles conducted courses on U.S. public policy for government, corporate and international executives at the Center for Public Policy Education at the Brookings Institution. Previously, she was the Director of Programs at the American Council of Young Political Leaders, where she directed ACYPL’s global portfolio of public diplomacy, political skills training and civil society programs.  She has also held positions with the Middle East Partnership Initiative at the U.S. Department of State and the Coalition for American Leadership Abroad. 

Ms. Miles is a member of the Society for International Development, Women in International Security and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy.  She currently serves on the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy liaison committee, working to develop strategic connections in the foreign policy community in support of YPFP’s mission to foster the next generation of foreign policy leaders.

Ms. Miles holds an M.A. in International Affairs, with a Middle East specialization, from the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University and a dual B.A. in Economics and International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.