Catherine Leslie, PE, CAE

Catherine Leslie graduated from Michigan Tech in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation, she joined the Peace Corps and served in Nepal as a Water/Sanitation Engineer. Upon returning to the United States, she worked in the private and public sectors as a project engineer/manager in the design and management of civil engineering projects. Her responsibilities routinely covered all facets of engineering to ensure successful and cost-efficient projects.

In 2003, Cathy began volunteering her time with Engineers Without Borders–USA, a non-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of life in developing communities while improving engineering education to include a global perspective. With EWB-USA, first as the volunteer Executive Director in 2003, and subsequently, as the full-time Executive Director in 2008, she brings her management and organizational skills to ensure that the volunteer organization can fulfill its mission and vision.

Cathy is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She received the William H. Wisely Civil Engineer Award in 2008 from the American Society of Civil Engineers for her contribution to the engineering profession. In 2010, in recognition of her significant achievements, Cathy was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Presidential Council of Alumnae. She is also a Board Member for the Council of Engineering and Scientific and Society Executives as well as President-elect of Engineers Without Borders International.

Cathy has a family ties with Michigan Tech, her father, Samuel William Kuchta ('48, Civil Engineering – now deceased), brother, Douglas Kuchta ('84, Mechanical Engineering), and nephew (Sean Kuchta, ’15, Mechanical Engineering) are also alumni with her nephew Nick Olsen as an incoming freshman in Mechanical Engineering. Cathy lives in Thornton, Colorado with her husband, Steve. She enjoys spending time in the mountains and on the river.