Author and Professor of Sociology and Dean, School of Social Sciences, Sonoma State Univ.

Dr. Leeder’s most recent book is My Life with Lifers: Lessons For a Teacher: Humanity Has No Bars. This book tells the stories of her experiences teaching men who are servining life sentences at San Quentin Prison, and was the focus of our interview. From 1977 to 2001, she taught in the sociology department at Ithaca College and coordinated the social work minor. She teaches courses on social change, family violence and the treatment and prevention of family violence and social policy.