Curriculum Development
I have been active in curriculum development at Augustana College. I served as co-director for a number of institutional grants including the following:
2025-2028: Cornerstone: Learning for Living Implementation Grant, Teagle Foundation, Co-Director of an institutional general education implementation grant.
2024-2025: Cornerstone: Learning for Living Planning Grant, Teagle Foundation, Co-Director of an institutional general education planning grant.
2021-2022: National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities Connections Grant, Co-Director of a project to create a Minor in Medicine and the Humanities at Augustana College
Teaching History
At Augustana College, my primary role is to teach courses for the Department of History, including the following:
History 130: Rethinking American History to 1877
History 131: Rethinking American History, 1877-Present
History 133: American Environment
History 260: Making a Museum
History 300: Historical Research Methods
History 330: Public History and Memory
History 333: Disease and Health
History 440: Senior Inquiry Practicum
History 450: Senior Inquiry
Beyond History
I also teach courses outside of the history department, including a seminar for first-year students and courses in the honors program, including the following:
First Year Inquiry 101: What Should I Eat?
Honors 102: Changing Minds
Read more about Leech’s teaching via Augustana College’s website.
Advising
I serve as the academic advisor for many first-year students and for history majors. I also advise a few student organizations, including:
Augie Acres, a student-run organic garden
The History Club
Administrative Work
I also currently chair the following programs at Augustana
Austin E. Knowlton Honors Program
Food Studies Experiential Minor
I also helped to create an academic programs fair, for which I received an Augustana Innovator Award.
In 2026 I received the college’s Harold T. and Violet M. Jaeke Award for Employee Excellence.