Leah McCormick Howard, J.D., joins the Portland-based National Psoriasis Foundation as its director of government relations and advocacy. As a member of the Psoriasis Foundation executive team, Howard—who will be based in Washington, D.C.—will oversee all advocacy, government relations and policy initiatives for the organization.

Howard's background includes more than a decade of public policy and federal affairs experience. Most recently, Howard was the assistant director of policy and national initiatives for BlazeSports America, a national nonprofit that provides sport and physical activity opportunities for youth and adults with physical disabilities, where she was responsible for overseeing a Health & Human Services grant, guiding policy development and producing federal reports and evaluations.

Additionally, Howard spent 10 years with B&D Consulting in Washington, D.C., working with major health care and research institutions, disability and health organizations, and local governments on policy and legislative agendas and federal affairs strategy.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in government and international relations from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind., and a law degree from George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Va.

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