A former banking executive and native South Carolinian, Leslie is a graduate of Claremont Graduate University’s prestigious MFA program and recipient of the Karl and Beverly Benjamin Fellowship in Art. She received her MBA from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with concentrations in marketing and international business, and her bachelor of science degree in finance and economics from the University of Nevada, Reno. She also holds a degree in graphic design from Cuesta College. Leslie is a member of Mensa.