Robert H. Leonard is a Professor in the School of Performing Arts at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. Leonard is the director of the MFA in Theatre and the primary advisor for the MFA program in Directing and Public Dialogue. He founded and led The Road Company, a theater ensemble based in Johnson City, TN, from 1975 to 1998. He has collaborated in developing and devising new works, and directed plays written by others. He has career-long experience as a director/facilitator of improvisation in theatre and community dialogue through theatre. His recent community projects include: the Building Home project with the New River Valley Planning District Commission; the Christiansburg Institute, an African American school with a 150 year history; CultureWorks, an arts-based community cultural organizing effort in Baltimore, MD; and On The Table, Sojourn Theatre, Portland, OR. Leonard authored with Ann Kilkelly Performing Communities, An Inquiry Into Ensemble Theater Deeply Rooted In Eight U.S. Communities. He is a founding member of the Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET) and a founding board member of Alternate ROOTS.