Marissa Joy Leichter, Esq.

Marissa Joy Leichter, Esq., joined The Trust Board in July 2013. Ms. Leichter is currently the program manager of the Citizen Review Panel for Florida Foster Care Review, which promotes the safety, well-being and long-term success of abused and neglected children through volunteer-driven case reviews and system level advocacy. Previously, she served as director of Community & Legal Affairs at Educate Tomorrow, a nonprofit that creates independence for disadvantaged and foster youth through education, mentoring, and life skills training. Previously, Ms. Leichter practiced for nine years as a senior program attorney with the Guardian ad Litem Program in Miami-Dade County where she appeared in court representing the best interests of abused, neglected and abandoned children and helped them navigate the child welfare system.

Ms. Leichter was selected as a Miami Fellow 2011-12 by the Miami Foundation and has since served on the Foundation's Engaged Youth Committee. In 2012-13, she was selected to participate in Rotary International's Group Study Exchange Program for young professionals representing the local district in northern India.

She earned a J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of the Law, an M.P.A. from Florida International University, and a B.A. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.