Leigh Heflin Ponniah
About Leigh Heflin Ponniah
Leigh Heflin Ponniah is a Grants Management Specialist and Director of Operations at IADMS, contributing significantly to the growth of its membership and the enhancement of dancers' health and performance.
Current Professional Roles
Leigh Heflin Ponniah serves as the Director of Operations at the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) since 2016. In this role, she oversees various operational aspects of the organization in the Greater New York City Area. Concurrently, she works as a Grants Management Specialist at NYU Langone Medical Center, also starting from 2016. Her responsibilities at NYU Langone include managing grants and contributing to the institution's various research initiatives.
Previous Professional Experience
Leigh Heflin Ponniah has a strong background in both education and administration. From 2013 to 2015, she served on the Board of Directors for the New York State Dance Education Association. Her academic contributions include her tenure as a Lecturer at Saint Mary’s College of California from 2009 to 2016. Previously, she held the role of Program Coordinator for Education and Marketing at NYU Langone Medical Center from 2006 to 2016. These roles highlight her extensive experience in educational settings and organizational leadership.
Educational Background
Leigh Heflin Ponniah has a comprehensive academic foundation in dance and performance studies. She obtained her MSc in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire, studying there from 2005 to 2006. She earned her MA in Performance Studies from New York University, which she attended from 2001 to 2012. Additionally, she holds a BFA in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she studied from 1997 to 2001.
Contributions to IADMS
During her tenure at IADMS, Leigh Heflin Ponniah has played a critical role in expanding the organization’s membership from 48 to over 1500 members worldwide, spanning 51 countries. She contributes significantly to initiatives aimed at enhancing the health and performance of dancers. Her work at IADMS includes overseeing educational, medical, and scientific projects that support dancers globally.