Leslie W Strong was born in Newport News, Virginia and received her Master of Fine Art from Syracuse University, with a major area of specialization in Ceramics and Sculpture and a minor in drawing and photography. She received her Bachelor of Science in Art from Skidmore College where she majored in Fine Art, Art Education, with a minor in Art History. She taught Drawing at Syracuse University and 2 and 3-dimensional Design at Skidmore College. She has over 25 years of teaching experience at the college and high school levels in Sculpture, Drawing and Photography