Hello ~

My name is Leslie Alexander and I'm a practicing professional herbalist in Erie, Pennsylvania. I live by the water, close to the plants and I work with people to support well-being and to preserve medicinal and culinary herbal traditions.

My interest in health and wellness, gardening and garden design, foods and culinary herbs propelled me into the world of herbalism. Professionally, I come from a laboratory and research background, having received my B.Sc. in environmental sciences (Fairleigh Dickinson University, USA) and then my Ph.D. from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh Scotland. My PhD by research, with Martin Wilkinson, focused on the intertidal seaweed Enteromorpha intestinalis and raised a number of questions, including how does stress affect the organism.

It remains a timely question.

Between my experiences in Martin's lab, a post-doc in a molecular lab (University of Warwick, Coventry England), and then my work as a Senior Research Fellow in environmental epidemiology (Lancaster University, Lancaster England), I began to think about health and wellness in new ways. A subsequent position in the Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit (CAHRU), while it was located in Edinburgh University (Scotland) propelled me further.

I was greatly influenced by herbal formulator and teacher Richard Phethean while I was living in Scotland and the English culinary herbalist Jekka McVicar.

In addition to continuing an individualized course of independent study, drawing on the work of many inspiring herbalists, I completed a diploma course with honors at ACHS (in Oregon). There, I submitted a dissertation on turmeric (also known as haldi to some, Curcuma longa to others). For the following two years, while continuing my independent studies, I also had the very good fortune of working with Richard Mandelbaum RH(AHG) as my clinical mentor. I am lucky to continue to reap Richard’s wisdom.

In 2009, I was invited to join the American Herbalists Guild as a professional member and after three consecutive terms on the AHG Board of Directors, I shifted my focus to align more with my commitment to a transparent educational model. I also held a seat on the Guild’s Education Advisory Committee for about eight years. Additionally, exemplifying my commitment to continuing education, I oversaw the Free Monthly Webinar Series (for a lot of years!), with a focus on creating a diverse program of invited speakers for student and professional alike.

​I’m a social justice advocate with a lifelong belief that diversity, equity and inclusion offer a sustainable model that can, does and will support a thriving community of plants and people.

I think of myself as a practitioner, an educator and an author. I am also a medicine maker, a crafter and a creator. I’m passionate about working with others, maritime medicinals used during the Age of Sail and the many and varied uses of herbs in the mouth. Too, I very much enjoy mentorship and clinical education.