Manuela Casti Yeagley

Assistant Director of Research Operations

Why LEO?

"What drew me to LEO initially and continues to inspire me is its focus on critical hope—the precious ability to stay hopeful while fully acknowledging the realities we face. This balance is not easy, and the commitment to it reflects a deep understanding of the challenges inherent in our work.

I genuinely admire LEO’s mission of connecting seemingly distant worlds. By building partnerships among academia, dedicated service providers on the front lines, and policymakers, LEO helps create a more cohesive approach to addressing complex issues. Its vision of empowering service organizations to invest in evidence-based strategies truly resonates with me. I believe in the importance of using research to enhance effectiveness and ensuring that those who are directly impacted by policies have their voices heard. This approach aligns with my personal values and professional aspirations, making me feel deeply connected to LEO’s mission."

 

Bio

As the Assistant Director of Research Operations, Manuela is a key driver in maximizing LEO's research impact through strategic operational excellence. Her work is centered on two critical areas: first, she cultivates and manages LEO’s rich academic community of anti-poverty Affiliated Researchers across the U.S. This mission-driven network is a strategic priority, directly enabling LEO to undertake an increasingly diverse and specialized portfolio of anti-poverty projects. Second, she is dedicated to promoting integrated, high-efficiency functioning across Research Operations, which involves streamlining processes, optimizing communications, and championing professional development to ensure LEO’s operational foundation is agile and scalable. Prior to LEO, Manuela was a Research Assistant Professor at the Wellbeing at Work/Flourishing in Ministry Project (Mendoza College of Business). Her background includes conducting research on workplace well-being in collaboration with a broad range of organizations, including non-profits, providing a strong foundation in impactful partnership development and the practical application of rigorous academic research.