Leslie Ribeiro Vicente has been the Executive Director of Discovery Language Academy (DLA) since 2016. In that capacity, she has been instrumental, along with the Board of Directors, to revise the vision and mission of the school to reflect 21st-century needs, paving the way for more engaging, inclusive, and effective learning environments, while capitalizing on technology to enhance learning and teaching experiences. Under her leadership, DLA not only increased child enrollment in Portuguese-language classes by 465 percent but also introduced classes for adults and expanded learning opportunities in the areas of language acquisition, cultural understanding, and career education to help individuals achieve personal, professional, and vocational goals. Under her guidance, DLA established HUB 128, a collaborative working space for organizations, private groups, and students with the support of MassDevelopment, Bridgewater State University, and the DeMello International Center.

In 2024, the Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS) presented its 2024 Education Leadership Award to Discovery Language Academy. Also in 2024, Dr. Leslie Ribeiro Vicente was chosen as the Person of the Year by The Prince Henry Society of New Bedford. But her love and commitment to the community do not end there. She is currently an elected member of the Council of the Portuguese Communities (CCP), a Portuguese Government’s advisory board for policies relating to Portuguese communities abroad. She is a past member of UMass Dartmouth’s Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture Advisory Board, the Consulate of Portugal in New Bedford Advisory Board, and a past and current member of other boards and committees.

Leslie was born in San Diego, California, but grew up on the island of Pico, Azores, until she moved with her family to New Bedford at the age of 12. She graduated from New Bedford High School before earning a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Public Policy from UMass Dartmouth. She has been a lifelong educator. Presently, she teaches Portuguese-language courses at Lesley University, and currently resides in New Bedford with her partner, Joseph Brizida. She is the mother of Sasha, Tyler, Lucas, and Joey, whom she considers her biggest achievement.