James Leehan

Jim (aka. The Rev. Dr. James) Leehan is an Episcopal priest with 40+ years of ordained ministry and advanced degrees in divinity, counseling, social work, and social ethics. Besides serving as a campus minister, in a variety of parishes and in mission work on the Navajo Indian Reservation, he has practiced and taught as a Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist. In his therapy practice he worked primarily with traumatized adults and has written and lectured widely in the area of domestic violence.

His work with survivors of family violence began in 1978 when he and a university colleague discovered they each knew students who were survivors who had never discussed the matter with anyone – remember, this was pre Oprah Winfrey. They invited them to participate in a counseling/support group and a 30+ year ministry began. Although he has "retired" to Santa Fe, NM Jim continues to be active in the field of domestic violence through the Santa Fe Coordinated Community Response Counsel for Domestic and Sexual Violence. His primary interest is in educating faith leaders in proper response to victims and survivors of violence and addressing the spiritual issues raised by family violence. He volunteers with other programs in the city and he and his wife, Melissa, conduct marriage workshops for clergy and their spouses.