Leeza was born in Russia and moved to the USA in 1995, where she received her BA in Economics/International Relations from Denison University in 2000. In 1999, Leeza spent one semester at La Universidad de Complutense, Madrid. Leeza received her MS in Information Systems from Syracuse University in 2001 and a PhD in Systems Engineering/Technology Management from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2005. In her thesis she evaluated a screening prenatal/preconception technology (ELI-P Complex) which has been developed by Russian scientists and is currently seeking proper policy introduction for mass implementation. Research interests: include health technology assessment, system dynamics, and prenatal/reproductive technologies. Leeza is a member of the system dynamics society (SDS) and the president of the Russian Chapter of SDS. Leeza is fluent in Russian, English, Spanish and French, with a basic knowledge of Czech and German.