Leigh Weisenburger  

lweisenb@bates.edu | she/her
Vice President for Enrollment & Dean of Admission and Financial Aid

Having grown up in a small town of nearly 3,000 people in Connecticut — equidistant to Boston and NYC — Leigh thought “The City” was where she wanted and needed to be for college. She dreamt of living in a large diverse urban setting and thought she’d discover the world and herself there. After a year and a half at Fordham University, while fulfilled with a myriad of local and global service opportunities, exploration of all five boroughs, and a deep commitment to WFUV (the NPR affiliate on campus) and LifeBeat: Music Fights HIV/AIDS, Leigh determined she wanted a smaller community and greater liberal arts options. Seeking an almost polar opposite experience, Leigh enrolled at Smith College where she majored in American Studies, played field hockey and captained the lacrosse team, was a tour guide coordinator, and studied abroad in France and Peru.

Through all of these experiences, Leigh became naturally curious about the college admission process. Intrigued by her somewhat alternative path, Leigh is committed to prospective students and their authentic interests and curiosities about their educational pursuits and the world. Leigh loves to “imagine all the possibilities” with them and their families.  

As for Bates, how and why Leigh didn’t find it as a high school student is beyond her! She grew up visiting Damariscotta, Maine every summer, is a great lover of the outdoors, and is deeply committed to Bates’ founding principles of diversity and inclusion. Leigh has remained at Bates for 20 years inspired by the innovative, thoughtful, sincerely kind, and engaged and engaging students, faculty, and staff. Each and every day she is struck by community members’ brilliance and collaborative spirit.