Wendy Leigh, Principal/Vice President of Education
Wendy Leigh is Vice President of Education and Humanities at the Patel Conservatory at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts center. She joined the Center after a lengthy and varied career in education and the arts. She holds degrees in both education (Columbia College, Missouri) and theater (University of South Florida). She taught for seven years in the Hillsborough County school District, at Chamberlain (1 year) and Hillsborough High school (5 years) as well as Drama in the Bennington College summer program in Vermont (3 summers). She has 30 years experience in professional theater (including acting, directing, producing and presenting), has opened up two spaces from the ground up (The LOFT Theater and the Off Center, now Shimberg Playhouse) and was instrumental in launching the opening of the Patel Conservatory. Leigh has revolved her career around providing opportunities for emerging artists to experiment and hone their craft. Her mission has always been spotting, cultivating, nurturing and encouraging talented artists, designers and technicians. She is a certified Florida teacher and a member of Screen Actors Guild. She also is married and has two young daughters in the public school system in Hillsborough County.