Sheila Leslie is known for her work on behalf of children, youth, and families in our community for more than 25 years. She has an extensive background in non-profit work, serving as the Executive Director of the Children’s Cabinet for seven years, where she created innovative and award-winning programs including Family Preservation, the Child Care Resource Council, Homeless Youth Advocacy, Truancy Prevention Center, RAD Tutoring Program, Parent Education Network, Gang Prevention and Intervention, and Nevada’s first comprehensive Adolescent Health Care program. Sheila was also the founding director of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. As the owner of a small consulting business for five years, Sheila provided comprehensive consulting services through contracts with public and private, non-profit human service organizations, specializing in the development and implementation of public/private partnerships addressing the needs of children and their families, including the development of Nevada’s Family Resource Center Network.
Currently Sheila works as the Specialty Courts Coordinator for the 2nd Judicial District Court, running the criminal, family, and juvenile drug courts and the state’s first mental health court.
Sheila is the author of many articles and studies on human services issues such as teen pregnancy, mental health, and youth gangs. Her most recent publication is a chapter in Universal Healthcare: Readings for Mental Health Professionals on Nevada’s implementation of the New Freedom Report. Sheila has always participated as a community volunteer, serving in the past on the Board of Directors of the Committee to Aid Abused Women, the Sierra Nevada Girl Scout Council, Sierra Nevada Community Access Television, Join Together Northern Nevada (a substance abuse prevention coalition), the Gang Alternatives Partnership, the Western States Youth Services Network, and the National Network for Youth. Currently, she serves on the Boards of KNPB Channel 5 Public Television and the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Foundation and the Advisory Boards for the Community Foundation of Western Nevada and the Health Access Network.
Sheila is originally from the Monterey Peninsula, graduating from Pacific Grove High School. She has a Masters Degree in Spanish Literature from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Bachelors Degree in Spanish Language and Literature with Distinction and Honors from Sonoma State University. Sheila learned Spanish as an American Field Service Scholar in Spain when she was seventeen, and has also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic.
Sheila has a college-age daughter, Emma, who is currently studying at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. Emma plans to double major in Spanish and Politics.
Sheila enjoys the back country of Nevada and is an active hiker, backpacker, and skier, accompanied often by her border collie, Jack.