About Steven

Steven H. Leach, Ph.D, CTM, connects research and practice in targeted violence prevention and behavioral threat assessment and management. His work spans more than fifteen years, from community-based violence prevention in sub-Saharan Africa to training and support for threat assessment teams in New York State.

Steven moved to New York State to support a targeted violence prevention initiative established in response to the May 2022 supermarket attack in Buffalo.

He regularly delivers one- and three-day courses in behavioral threat assessment and management, reaching more than 2,500 course participants since 2023.

Previously, Steven worked in program management, workshop facilitation, and research with ACTION for Conflict Transformation. His doctoral research examined U.S.-funded programs to counter violent extremism in Tanzania, working closely with young men targeted for recruitment by violent extremist organizations. He received his PhD in 2020.

He is the author of Preventing Violence, published by the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich, and has conducted research for the Center for Civilians in Conflict.

Steven holds an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Ancient Mediterranean Studies from Trinity University. He serves on the Northeast Chapter Board of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals.