Story #103: Jennifer Leaning, Volunteer Teachers for Africa Tanzania Alum and Public Health Advocate

Dr. Jennifer Leaning ‘68 is a distinguished expert in public health, humanitarian law, and human rights, with a career dedicated to addressing the health impacts of conflict and forced migration. As Senior Research Fellow at the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Leaning’s research focuses on the public health challenges in war-torn regions, including the African Great Lakes, Afghanistan, and Palestine. Her extensive fieldwork in these crisis areas has shaped international policy and advocacy on the health consequences of conflict and climate change. With over three decades of experience in global health, Dr. Leaning co-founded the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative and served as Director of the FXB Center from 2010 to 2018. Her work has led to vital reports and policy recommendations for major international organizations, including the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, and leading NGOs. She is the lead editor of several influential books, including The 1947 Partition of British India: Forced Migration and its Reverberations.

Leaning’s journey into global health and human rights began during her time as a volunteer with PBHA. In 1965-66, Dr. Leaning took a year off from her studies to join Volunteer Teachers for Africa (VTA), working in Tanzania with young leaders from revolutionary movements in Southern Africa and in a rural development village supported by Oxfam UK. In PBHA’s 2023 Alumni Survey, Leaning noted:

"I learned about the notion of service and exploration, of trying to understand the lives of other people, including those I did not know at all. Before that, these interests were only theoretical for me, but after my time in Tanzania, they became real-life possibilities. PBHA was the spark that helped me realize that I could make a difference, that service wasn’t just something I could study—it was something I could actively engage in and change my own life’s course." - Jennifer Leaning

The leadership and lessons Leaning gained through PBHA were pivotal in guiding her professional journey.

"I also learned the importance of trying to understand and make common ground with people from different backgrounds and experiences," she says. "It was through PBHA that I first felt the trust and encouragement to take risks and pursue difficult paths. The student friendships I built during this time were so meaningful, and it was through PBHA that I truly learned the power of empathy—being able to understand and imagine the lives of others, even those whose lives and struggles seemed worlds apart from my own." - Jennifer Leaning

Leaning also recalls how PBHA nurtured her sense of independence and self-direction, even as she prepared for the rigors of medical school.

"PBHA gave me the latitude to make decisions and take initiative in a way that felt both empowering and fulfilling. I had the freedom to explore new ideas, try different things, and step outside the boundaries of my comfort zone. Though I became focused on getting into medical school and preparing for my future career, I always felt that the lessons I learned through PBHA stayed with me, guiding me in my work on human rights, public health, and global humanitarian issues."

Today, as a semi-retired academic and researcher, Leaning’s ability to empathize and create common ground continues to inform her work, from humanitarian response to climate change research and policy development. PBHA is so proud of all of Leaning’s accomplishments and her unwavering commitment to public health issues globally.

Read more about PBHA’s connection to VTA here.