Karla Leeper

Senior Consultant, SPH Consulting Group

Karla Leeper is a nationally recognized expert in strategic communication for higher education, health care and non-profits.  Over the course of her more than 30 years of leadership she has developed successful, context driven, data informed communication strategies to implement reorganizations, realignments and mergers in professional organizations, public school districts, non-profit health care organizations and three universities. In 2015 she led the effort to create and launch the new brand and philanthropic identity for Augusta University (AU), following the merger of Georgia Health Sciences University and Augusta State University to create AU, and for Augusta University Health (AUH), following the merger of various clinical entities to establish AUH, the only such public academic health system in the state. For these efforts she was recognized with the Council on Advancement and Support of Higher Education’s Gold Award. Dr. Leeper has received awards for her work in building high performing teams, public advocacy, diversity, student success and teaching. Previously, Dr. Leeper served as the Vice President for Operations at Augusta University and the Vice President for Board and Executive Affairs at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.