Leslie Kirby

Leslie Kirby is the CEO of the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine. The JCA is an integrated Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Center and Jewish Family Services. The JCA also runs an award winning Jewish Preschool and summer camp (Center Day Camp) and a newly formed community foundation (Jewish Community Fund of Maine).

Prior to her current role, Dr. Kirby spent 18 years as a professor at Vanderbilt University, where her research focused on stress and coping. She then became the Founder & CEO of the Kirith Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to conducting, disseminating and applying social science research for the public good. Dr. Kirby’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, as well as the Positive Psychology Network.

Dr. Kirby has also done psychology-related consulting, including groups and organizational management. A particular area of expertise is helping organizations effectively and deal with stress in the workplace.

In addition, Dr. Kirby is an active and engaged philanthropist, with extensive experience with Jewish communal organizations.