Peter Leahy, PhD

Peter J. Leahy holds the Ph.D. in Social Science from Syracuse University, awarded in 1975. Leahy has previously held tenure track appointments at Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University and The University of Akron. Leahy retired as Senior Research Associate from the Institute for Health and Social Policy at the University of Akron in June 2013. He returned to academia at the Kent State University College of Public Health in August 2016 as a Professor of Health Policy and Management and an appointment in the Center for Public Policy and Health where he is currently managing several evaluation projects

Leahy’s area of academic specialization is program planning and evaluation, especially program evaluation in human service organizations. His philosophy is that program evaluation should lead to program improvement. Leahy has published over 46 refereed articles and book chapters. He is also author of numerous evaluation reports and monographs. He has presented evaluation workshops at the state and local levels, and has conducted workshops on program evaluation in Hungary and Russia through a grant with the United States Information Agency. He has worked with a wide range of evaluation sponsors in the area of the social determinants of health and has also conducted strategic planning and needs assessment efforts for health partners.

Leahy has three adult children, is an avid (but challenged) sculler, enjoys gardening and has a keen interest in the novels, history and aftermath of the First and Second World Wars.