Dave Leipholtz is the Senior Lecturer for the Gephardt Institute and WashU Political Science joint Civic Action Lab courses, Turning Passion Into Policy and Running for Public Office, and is the Founder and Executive Director for the Center for Civic Research and Innovation (CCRI), an initiative of the St. Louis Community Foundation. CCRI conducts and provides objective research and analysis designed to spur informed civic dialogue and drive innovative solutions.
Prior to CCRI, Dave was Director of Community Based Studies (2013–2019) and Executive Director (2019) at Better Together. He was Manager of Public Policy and Operations at the Regional Business Council (2011–2013).
Dave is a current Board member for St. Louis Youth Jobs and served as Board Chair (2017–2023). He is a Senior Lecturer at Washington University, and a Leadership St. Louis participant (2016–2017). Dave received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Washington University and his Juris Doctorate from Saint Louis University Law School. He is a native St. Louisan.