Witnessing the realities of war and experiencing the lasting effects of armed conflict decidedly influenced Leona’s career aspirations. She was born in Kosovo during a particularly tumultuous period, shortly after the collapse of Yugoslavia but at the height of Serbia’s state-sanctioned oppression of Albanians. In 1999 she and her family arrived in sunny San Diego, CA as war refugees and have since reaped the fruits of American education, democracy and security.

Leona graduated summa cum laude from San Diego State University with a B.A. in International Security and Conflict Resolution. Her interdisciplinary studies honed her keen interest in global development and a women-centered approach to international security. Since then she’s set off on a course to study why conflicts arise, what disparities exist during and after them, and what development factors lead to stable and lasting peace.

Following her undergraduate studies, Leona was afforded a unique and special opportunity to return to her home country as a U.S. Fulbright grant recipient. As a Fulbrighter, she taught English in Kosovo’s capital, Prishtina, and worked closely with the American Corner and US Embassy. Her Albanian-American nationality engendered a special affinity between her and her students, making for a richer and more effective experience in the classroom.

While on her grant and in the years since she has conducted research for various Kosovo women’s organizations in an effort to enhance women’s legal rights and equality in all spheres. Leona regards her professional experience in Kosovo as a precursor to her eventual career as a U.S. diplomat.

Leona is very thrilled to join the Georgetown community and is eager to learn from its outstanding faculty and her own GHD cohort. She’s particularly excited about the Women, Peace and Security certificate offered by the university. In her free time, she aims to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle. You’ll find her surrounded by her tight-knit family, traveling around the world, weight-lifting, practicing yoga, and simply grateful for life.

Why GHD?

Georgetown's GHD was everything I hoped for in a graduate program: rigorous, but personalized and in our nation's capital where opportunities are endless!