Donald E. Leisey '59

Few educators have experienced opportunities to practice their profession in as many different ways as Dr. Donald E. Leisey '59 has accomplished. After graduating from West Chester State Teachers College with a B.S. in Education, Don served in public and private education in Pennsylvania, California and Japan as a teacher, lecturer, principal, business manager, assistant superintendent, superintendent of schools, owner and executive director of private schools. Dr. Leisey earned a M.A. degree from Villanova Univ. in 1962, a Certificate in School Business Administration (1972) and Doctorate in Education from the Univ. of Southern California (1973).

As an educational entrepreneur, he organized and managed ten companies, including twenty-two private schools, a chain of five educational retail stores, including catalogue and internet sales, and real estate partnerships leasing properties to educational organizations. He is the co-author of THE EDUCATIONAL ENTREPRENEUR, MAKING A DIFFERENCE and has been the Executive Director of the International Academy of Educational Entrepreneurship since 2000.

At WCU, he has served on the Foundation Board and the Advisory Council to the Dean of the College of Education and Social Work. WCU recognized Dr. Leisey through the Distinguished Alumnus Award (1982), 3E Founders Award (2009), the Presidential Medallion for Service (2011). and was the commencement speaker in 2011.

Dr. Leisey attributes his education at WCU as the "launching pad" for providing numerous opportunities to work with dedicated educators and other outstanding individuals in assisting him over the years in providing quality educational programs, materials and facilities to enhance learning opportunities for students.

Presented on May 15, 2019