Lea graduated cum laude from the University of Dayton School of Law (UDSL). While a law student, she served as a Legal Professions Teaching Assistant and completed an externship in the Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Law, Office of the Georgia Attorney General.
Lea was born in Vicenza, Italy while her father was serving in the U.S. Air Force. After living in Ohio, New Mexico, and Massachusetts, most of her youth was spent in Knoxville, Tennessee. Lea attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Then, at Georgia State University, she completed a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Health Administration.
For 25 years, Lea served in different leadership and executive administration positions for Gwinnett /Hospital Health System located in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She became the President of Gwinnett Medical Center-Duluth while also serving as a Senior Vice President for Gwinnett Health System. Interest in studying and practicing law was sparked in business and healthcare law graduate classes and then, that interest grew as her position exposed her to work with attorneys in various fields of law. After a career pause as a learning coach for her children's alternative educational journey, Lea jumped on the opportunity to immerse herself in the study of law as a member of UDSL's inaugural Hybrid J.D. Program.
Lea has served as adjunct professor and bar passage advisor for UDSL and has done independent contract work for a healthcare law firm. She resides in Georgia and Texas and is a member of the Texas bar.