Lea Pettit graduated from the University of Hawai’i with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology in 2015 and is currently working toward a Master of Social Work from Missouri State University. Born and raised in Hawai’i, she moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 2016 and worked doing outreach for the area’s Center for Independent Living. In 2019, Lea became an Employment Specialist at The Whole Person, where she managed the Kansas Pre-ETS program. Lea joined the Northwest Pre-ETS team in 2023 and desires to support and mentor students with disabilities as they explore independence.