Leslie Brooks is a veterinarian with an interest in policy and diplomacy. She has worked in small animal veterinary medicine, having dedicated much of her time to growing a non-profit that works with people in crisis who also have pets. She joined the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship with the intention of transitioning out of clinical medicine and more into the world of policy development, implementation, and evaluation. She enjoys learning new ways of looking at problems, meeting new people, and getting out of her comfort zone. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband and son. She enjoys painting, reading, writing, riding her bicycle, and traveling.