Honor Society® member
Leigh Snodgrass
Professional Nanny at I worked for a family in San Francisco with four children ages five, four, two, and infant. Managed household chores, organization, and cleaning as well as outings, activities, meals, bathing, bedtime, and accompanied the family on vacations. Unfortunately, the pandemic ended this position.
- Nursing, Nurse-Midwifery
- Class of 2022
- Albuquerque, NM
Member since January 2021
About
Hello! My name is Leigh and I am a doula that just started at the University of New Mexico's College of Nursing.
My past experience of sexual trauma led me to birth work: I became a certified doula in the Spring of 2017. I had been feeling called to give back while enabling myself to heal via journeying, learn about other cultures, and put my new-found care-giving skills into practice. I connected with a volunteer doula opportunity in Costa Rica and decided to learn to ride a motorcycle to get there. After three months on the road, I arrived in Costa Rica in December of 2017 and began living at a hostel for indigenous women and children who were awaiting labor or hospital appointments. As a doula, my focus became helping mothers navigate a health care system steeped in racism towards indigenous peoples. While doing that work I met a midwife who allowed me to shadow her and co-teach birth classes as well as teen empowerment groups. During my return journey, I also had the opportunity to volunteer as a birth assistant to a midwife in Guatemala. The eight months I was intending to dedicate to the trip became nineteen. Throughout the nine countries that I had the privilege to experience, the bridges of respect, curiosity, compassion, and tenacity that I built enabled me to connect and adapt in ways I never thought possible. I felt and feel a deep connection to the people and places through which I have traveled. My commitment to do my part in dismantling the disparities that keep People of Color from receiving relevant and quality care here in the US is born out of my empathic nature coalesced with experience: it’s personal. Being accepted to the University of New Mexico’s College of Nursing was my next step in honoring this duty and answering my calling to care for others.
Education
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University of New Mexico
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
2021 – 2022
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Central New Mexico Community College
Nursing Prerequisites
2020
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Peralta Community College District
Nursing Prerequisites
2019 – 2020
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Burlington College
Integral Psychology; Photography
2012 – 2013
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New Hampshire Technical Institute
General Education
2010 – 2011
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New England College
General Education
2009 – 2010
Goals and interests
- Career goal
I am really looking forward to practicing for a brief period as a Labor and Delivery Nurse upon graduating with my BSN. After gleaning some experience, I will then pursue my masters to become a Certified Nurse Midwife: the incredible array of women I worked alongside on my journey guided and encouraged me to become a CNM. In my future as a Nurse-Midwife, I plan to open a center for women facing homelessness, abuse, or other hardship within pregnancy to be able to come live in community throughout their prenatal and postpartum periods. Involving community care providers, the center would offer birth preparation, postpartum support, access to nourishing foods, and safe space. Rather than offering services that require these women to fit into an impertinent mold, the emphasis would instead be on teaming up with other care providers to offer relevant care that celebrates each of their cultural and community identities. The center would also serve as a general women’s health clinic offering contraceptive, abortive, and prenatal care on a sliding scale. I would be practicing as a home birth midwife as well to sustain my practice and offerings for low-income folks. The current disparities within maternity care are heartbreaking and unacceptable. The commitment to see and hear People of Color—not just the mothers that I'd like to be working with, but also in the team of care providers I plan to work alongside—is one that I will make throughout my career. No matter where I end up practicing as a midwife, I know that it will always involve community-based, compassionate care for those that are systematically denied access to quality providers.
- Graduate school interests
I was drawn to the University of New Mexico because of its focus on equity, inclusion, and social justice. I also chose it for its midwifery program as after I obtain my BSN, I plan to pursue my MSN in Nurse-Midwifery to become a Certified Nurse Midwife. This level of education is important to me because—in addition to birth work—I want to be able to offer full-spectrum women's health services.
- Outside the classroom
Hiking, rock climbing, cooking, weight lifting, photography, Muay Thai, gardening, dancing, motorcycle riding, traveling, playing piano, listening to music, and meditation.
Experience
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Professional Nanny
I worked for a family in San Francisco with four children ages five, four, two, and infant. Managed household chores, organization, and cleaning as well as outings, activities, meals, bathing, bedtime, and accompanied the family on vacations. Unfortunately, the pandemic ended this position.
Jun 2019 – Feb 2020
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Photographer
I formally studied photography within my undergraduate studies, but have always had a true love for the art. I have worked as a photographer over the years in a variety of capacities, from a portrait and assistant wedding photographer to large-scale events, business launch parties, music shows, and an on-snow photographer for a ski resort.
Aug 2012 – Aug 2019
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Sales Associate and Technical Support Agent
I worked for Best Buy and Geek Squad in various sales, customer service, and technical support roles. I was recognized by the corporate office for my positive customer reviews and feedback as well as my hard work.
Oct 2010 – Jul 2013
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Bartender and Server
I have worked at restaurants, bars, and venues as a server and bartender in many different settings. From fine dining to busy venues to a boutique hotel restaurant on the beach, I have high proficiency in interpersonal and communication skills, multi-tasking, problem solving, memory, receiving criticism with tact, and accommodation. I have worked in the service industry in New Hampshire, Vermont, Colorado, California, and as a bilingual server in México.
Jun 2005 – Jan 2019
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Childcare Provider and Camp Counselor
I began babysitting at the age of ten. I have always been drawn to care-taking and love children. I have held many roles as a childcare provider: babysitter, daycare worker, after-school program teacher, and camp counselor where I was also the ropes course and archery instructor.
May 2003 – Aug 2011
Volunteering
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I volunteered as a birth assistant to midwife, Viana Maza, founder of Intuición Materna. I attended birth, trainings, and general women's health visits with her.
Intuición Materna (Guatemala)
Sep 2018 – Dec 2018
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I apprenticed with midwife Rebecca Turecky, CNM, DNP, founder of MamaSol. I co-led birth preparation classes, support and empowerment groups for teenage women. I attended prenatal, postpartum and general women’s health appointments in addition to births with Doctor Turecky. I gave reiki and massage at the MamaSol center as well as participated in early childhood stimulation classes.
MamaSol Costa Rica
Dec 2017 – Jun 2018
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I lived full-time at a hostel for high risk pregnant mothers and their children from the indigenous Cabécar community. I shared in community with, looked after, and cooked for all people present at the hostel. I taught the mothers about and modeled prenatal and postpartum care, birth preparation, nutrition, breastfeeding, early childhood stimulation and general care. I accompanied the women and adolescents through their births and working to protect their rights in the public hospital, often staunchly ignored or abused. I provided full-time, complete care for four little ones ages 14 months, 16 months, two years old and four years old, including bathing, feeding, playing, illness care, outdoor activities, crafts, story time, sleep schedules, potty training, discipline, and learning/stimulation.
Albergue Indígena Cabécar Materno-Infantil - Casa Padre Cascante
Dec 2017 – Jun 2018
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Permaculture Action Network is a nonprofit that creates community events to bring people together over projects that enrich communities; educate on social, environmental, and food justice; and build spaces for togetherness, community gardening, and education. I volunteered as a physical laborer for action days as well as an administrative assistant for meetings.
Permaculture Action Network
Nov 2016 – Jun 2017
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As a volunteer teacher, I cared for children between the ages of six months and 16 years old in vulnerable situations. I taught and modeled healthy habits and communication skills through art and play. I chaperoned outings with the littles to parks, lakes, and the local college. I acted as a supervisor for the before-school program and helped students with homework. I met with parents to report on their child’s behavior and progress and facilitate activities within the families.
White Birch Community Center
Aug 2009 – Jun 2010
Languages
- English (US) Advanced
- Spanish Fluent
