Thinking in Systems. Leading with Purpose.
Leah Sciabarrasi, Ph.D.
Hello there! Welcome to my site and virtual logbook. This is where I surface and synthesize knowledge, tools, and stories that allow us to advance our work and organizations. My career has centered on designing and leading strategic initiatives in education—spanning curriculum development, community engagement, accreditation, online learning, strategic planning, K12 and workforce partnerships, recruitment, and faculty development. I focus on building human-centered systems and partnerships that align people, purpose, and possibility. I’m glad you’re here!
Areas of Expertise
Education & Development
I bring over 15 years of experience in higher education, serving in both faculty and administrative roles. My work centers on designing accessible, outcomes-driven learning experiences—especially in online and hybrid environments. I’ve led faculty development initiatives, supported accreditation efforts, and built programs that prioritize both academic quality and real-world relevance.
Partnership Building & Engagement
I specialize in building cross-sector partnerships that connect education with community and workforce needs. From K12 bridge programs to employer-aligned learning pathways, I’ve helped institutions strengthen their impact through meaningful collaboration—always with a focus on expanding access and supporting lifelong learning.
Leadership & Planning
Planning is a passion of mine. I’ve led strategic planning efforts at the institutional and departmental level, supported high schools in carrying out accreditation action plans, and developed goal-aligned processes that move ideas into action. My leadership style is rooted in clarity, collaboration, and systems thinking.
Strategic Foresight & Innovation
I use labor market data, trend analysis, and emerging technologies to help organizations stay ahead of the curve. My work involves translating insights into actionable strategies—whether that means designing new programs, mapping skills to careers, or rethinking how institutions prepare learners for what’s next.
Leah’s Log
Lessons Learned from the Accreditation Process
Educational accreditation is the approval from an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to...
Where Do We Teach People About ‘Wicked Messes’?
I was privileged to have a conversation with the great Ian Mitroff recently. After hearing him speak at the International...
2022 Leadership Trends
I had the pleasure of attending the International Leadership Association Global Conference in D.C. last month. A few...
The Innovative Habit
This post compares the act of innovation to the act of creativity and suggests that an innovative habit can be just as...
Leah’s Work
Presentation: The Innovative Habit
The Innovative Habit by Leah Sciabarrasi 2022 This presentation was given at the International...
Dissertation: Finding Erich Jantsch’s Five Crucial Innovations: A Study of Four Small Colleges
Research Questions To explore the problem, the following research questions were addressed: To what extent are Erich...
Article: Five Crucial Innovations: A Method of Studying Evolutionary Change in Small Colleges
In ‘Integrative Planning for the “Joint-Systems” of Society and Technology—The Emerging Role of the University’, Jantsch...
Article: New Models of Higher Education: Unbundled, Rebundled, Customized, and DIY
Our chapter: Ever Upward: Building an Ecosystem to Support and Validate Lifelong Learning (Scott Dolan, Michele Paludi,...
The Quiet Ganesh: Finding Erich Jantsch
Dr. Erich Jantsch has been described as an astrophysicist, an author, a businessman, an astronomer, a conservationist, a consultant, an engineer, an evolutionary theorist, a forecaster, a futurologist, a humanist, a lecturer, a music critic, a philosopher, a physicist, a scientist, an urban planner, founder of the ‘big history’ concept’, a pioneer in systems and futures thinking, and one of the six founding members of the Club of Rome. His books and publications range from technological forecasting to evolution. In particular, his last book, The Self-Organizing Universe, has been influential in the interdisciplinary fields of biomimicry, holism, co-evolution, and self-organization. He was an occasional advisor to about twenty governments, several international organizations, and research institutions. This book, The Quiet Ganesh, is the start of a biography of this expansive man. Use the button to the left to buy the book and read more about Erich Jantsch here >>
STRATEGIC PLANNING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING!
Strategic Planning is Dead, Long Live Strategic Planning!, is a podcast original from Manifoldo. This series presents new ideas for planning and measuring your organization’s progress.
Leah’s Lists
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Leah’s Resources
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Leah’s Ancestry
I am both Sicilian and Polish. I’ve spent quite a few years documenting my family lineage, in some cases back to the 1600s. I am proud of my heritage and grateful I get to live this lifetime.
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