College professor, lecturer, writer.
W. Leslie was the daughter of Robert L. and Martha Garnett. Before attending college Ms. Garrett resided with her family in Cedar Rapids. She earned her bachelor of arts degree at Iowa State Teachers College and her MA and Ph. D. degrees from the University of Iowa. During her tenure at the University of Iowa she was mentored by Dr. Ernest Horn, with whom she maintained a life long friendship. She taught at several colleges and universities but the bulk of her professional academic years were spent at Kent State University. Before World War II Leslie's principal interests were education and literature. In the aftermath of World War II she acquired a passion for the cause of international education, particularly the establishment of an International University in Angkor, Cambodia. She felt that international education could help foster world peace. For 13 months she worked in Cambodia under the International Cooperation Administration as and educational consultant. She worked closely with foreign students at Kent State and helped establish University Internationals, while at the same time attempting to get similar organizations started at other colleges. In 1976 Leslie returned to Iowa City where she continued her work with foreign students and the University of Iowa. There she developed Key Internationals, an organization which aimed to maintain and strength ties between the University and its foreign alumni. She donated her family's property to the University of Iowa which sold it to a Cedar Rapids firm. Garnett Place, a retirement home, was later built on the property in 1988.
From the description of Papers, 1918-1988. 1918-1988. (Iowa Sate Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 54118087
