Mona Freeman Leonard, a native Washingtonian, is an alumna of Trinity Washington University, Howard University, and the University of Kentucky. She is a full professor and was appointed to three consecutive terms as department chair at Jefferson Community College in Louisville, Kentucky. Leonard taught at the University of Louisville for ten years.
Since 1991 in her role as a professor, she has taught interpersonal communication, interviewing, public speaking, news writing, public relations, group process, business communication, and intercultural communication. She has lectured to thousands. Her written materials have reached more than a million people.
In 2009, 2008, 2006, and 2003, Leonard was awarded special recognition ratings and faculty awards for her publications and new course developments. In 2004, Leonard became a contributing author in a nationally published anthology on intercultural communication. In 2011, she became internationally published when the anthology expanded to the United Kingdom and Canada. In 2003, she along with her students received a distinguished service award from the Wayside Christian Mission, a homeless shelter. Leonard has also been published in the Kentucky Journal of Communication. In 1994, Leonard was awarded a grant from the University of Kentucky to promote cultural diversity. She then produced a 55-minute film, Intercultural Insights, which aired on the PBS stations in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky.
Leonard appeared in the 24th edition of Who's Who of American Women and in subsequent editions. She first appeared in the 8th edition of Who's Who Among America's Teachers. She has been honored with three more Who's Who Among America's Teachers awards. She has appeared in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. She is a member of the National Communication Association, American Association of University Women, and Kentucky Communication Association.
Leonard has written a 101-page book proposal chronicling her experiences with Strom Thurmond, Muhammad Ali, Diane von Furstenberg, and Arthur Ashe. The finished manuscript will contain 247 pages, including six pages of back matter and 11 photographs. The book proposal is under review. She is married to former NBC Washington radio personality and WUSA-TV 9 host, Jeff Leonard. They have one son, Jack.