Leigh C. Whittaker

About Leigh C. Whittaker

I lost my mother to cancer when I was four years old. I was too young to understand the policy decisions shaping her access to care and treatment, but I grew up acutely aware of what it costs when systems fail patients and families. That experience became the foundation of a conviction I carry into every room I work in: strong, equitable public policy is not abstract; it can reduce suffering and save lives.I am a government affairs and policy leader with more than eight years of experience in complex legislative environments, building trust-based relationships across government, nonprofit, and advocacy sectors. I approach this work with a clear belief that durable solutions require collaboration, clarity, and an honest accounting of how decisions affect real people.The core of my professional experience is in Congress, where I spent seven years on Capitol Hill, most recently as Legislative Director for Congressman David Price. I led a six-person team, directed his legislative and negotiation strategy, and oversaw the district\'s work on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development. Among the work I\'m most proud of: coordinating a multi-Member effort that secured $25 million in federal research funding for gun violence prevention across two fiscal years — an example of what\'s possible when you build the right coalitions around credible evidence.After leaving the Hill, I spent time as an early childhood educator at the Montessori School of Durham. This was a deliberate step that sharpened how I think about public responsibility. Working with infants and toddlers every day reinforced a principle that now anchors my policy work: the strength of any system is revealed by how well it serves those with the least power. Effective policy has to begin with care, dignity, and protection for the most vulnerable.I carry all of this into the work ahead because I genuinely believe a more just, equitable world is within reach. Whether building coalitions, shaping legislative strategy, or navigating complex policy challenges, my goal is always the same: to help create systems that work better for everyone, especially those who need them most.

Experience

1. Deputy Director of Policy

   The Hunt Institute

   Jan 2025 — Present

Education

• University of North Carolina Asheville

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Political Science

  2011 — 2015