Hanna Leonard
Senior Law and Policy Analyst
Phone: 443-827-6076
Email: h.leonard@umaryland.edu
Areas of Expertise: Public health preparedness | State and Local Emergency Management
Certifications and Affiliations: Certificate in Community Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare, Texas A&M University, 2025
Education: J.D. with Health Law Concentration, 2021, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law | B.A., 2018, International Politics with National Security Concentration, Pennsylvania State University Schreyer Honors College | B.A., 2018, Communication Arts and Sciences, Pennsylvania State University Schreyer Honors College
About Hanna
My journey into this field was a bit unexpected—I actually stumbled into it by accident. I graduated from law school during the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic and heard about an opening at CHHS. I applied because it seemed like a great opportunity to begin my career building on the skills I learned in law school while acquiring new knowledge and experience. Since then, I’ve been with CHHS and truly can’t imagine doing anything else. I’ve had the opportunity to work on several impactful projects, but one highlight was helping to establish the Office of Food Systems Resilience in Montgomery County. That experience taught me how to build a government initiative from the ground up, set strategic priorities, manage projects, and propose policy—all of which deepened my passion for public health. Another project that stands out is drafting an Emerging Infectious Disease Plan for the Prince George’s County Health Department. This plan outlines how the department will respond to various public health emergencies, organized by disease type, and includes detailed logistical and operational guidance. It was the first project I led from start to finish, and I’m incredibly proud of the final product. What I love most about working at CHHS is the culture—it supports a healthy work-life balance while also giving me the space to grow professionally and develop new skills.
What is your working style?
I really love working on a team. I believe that working collaboratively leads to a better and more comprehensive product because different sets of eyes will pick up different things that I may not have noticed myself. Any opportunity that I have to work with others and get their input on something that I am working on, I will take it!
What's a fun fact or hidden talent that you have?
A fun fact about me is that I’ve always been very athletic and I love sports. Growing up, I played field hockey as my team’s goalie. During my first season in junior high school as the goalie, I was the season MVP for both my school and the league. After that, I rowed throughout high school and college. During my time rowing, my boat got 3rd place in one of the largest regional races in the Philadelphia area (go birds!).
What is your favorite quote or motto?
The quote that drives me is “to whom much is given, much is expected.” My grandmother, who was a big part of my life, would repeat this to me constantly growing up. I now take this to mean that, because I have been given opportunities in life that many others haven’t, it is my responsibility to pay it forward by helping others. I’m very grateful that working with CHHS allows me to live by my motto!
