Leila Patel

Leila Patel

CSD Faculty Director​
South African Research Chair in Welfare and Social Development, University of Johannesburg
Sister Centers for Social Development: Research and Action

Leila Patel is a CSD faculty director from the University of Johannesburg and the Founding Director of the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA). She partners with CSD to promote social development and asset building in South Africa and globally.

Faculty profile


CSD Projects

Democracy and Civic Engagement

Democracy and Civic Engagement

Our research focuses on societal inclusion and ways to promote engagement across the life course.

Social Innovation and Civic Engagement in Higher Education

Social Innovation and Civic Engagement in Higher Education

Community and National Service

Washington University and Duke University held a think tank about the relationship between social innovation and civic engagement in higher education.