LeeRay Costa

LeeRay Costa is executive director of the Batten Leadership Institute at Hollins University (VA). Her research, teaching, and community activism focus on social justice and a desire to understand processes of social change. Trained as a feminist cultural anthropologist, Costa has conducted ethnographic fieldwork on women’s activism and nongovernmental organizations in Thailand, on transgender youth (Male Bodies, Women’s Souls, co-authored with Andrew Matzner, 2007), and on the local food movement in Hawaii. Her current interests include exploring the integration of contemplative practices and spirituality into social justice education, higher education administration, and social movement activism. Costa is a regular presenter at CIC’s Department and Division Chair Workshops.