Leisha Strachan
Professor & Associate Dean Research and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba

Dr. Leisha Strachan is a first-generation Black Canadian, proud daughter of Jerome and Margaret Strachan who immigrated to Winnipeg 55 years ago from the Caribbean island of Grenada. She was awarded the 2022 R. Tait McKenzie Award from Physical and Health Education Canada for her work in promoting physical education and was also named one of Canada’s 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women (2022-2024).

Currently, Dr. Strachan is a Professor and serving as Associate Dean Research and Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management at the University of Manitoba. She has conducted research relating to youth development in sport and the sport experiences of newcomers in the community. She has co-developed an online resource for coaches and parents called Project SCORE (www.projectscore.ca). With her background in sport psychology she was a mental performance consultant with the University of Manitoba women’s soccer team for 5 seasons.

She is a former national team member in the sport of baton twirling, earning 2 bronze medals at the world championships. She continues to coach, judge and choreograph in baton. She
is developing the next generation by directing ANANSI School for the Performing Arts, a group working to teach African and Caribbean culture through the arts.