"History was always my first love. It’s about regular people; who they were, how they lived, and what they contributed to society," she said. 

While she didn’t have the traditional college life, Ms. Leiner had some fantastic experiences at Saint Vincent.

"I was challenged by the religious studies classes to really think. The professors are very open and accepting of different ideas," she said.

While at Saint Vincent, Ms. Leiner worked for the Sociology Department and the Environmental Education Center on the wetlands project. She also completed an internship at the Westmoreland County Historical Society where she wrote an article based on letters from area soldiers who served during World War II. Her article was published in the Spring 2005 issue of Westmoreland History.

Her senior thesis at Saint Vincent was a study of the 17th century artist, Caravaggio.

"I received a grant from the Tom and Elizabeth Andreoli scholarship fund which enabled me to travel to Italy in 2004," she said. “I was 50 years old and headed to Italy by myself. It was one of the best experiences of my life.”

After graduation, Ms. Leiner was hired as the executive director for the Ligonier Valley Historical Society and Compass Inn Museum.

She and husband, Dr. George H. Leiner, SVC Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy, live in Greensburg. They are the parents of two grown daughters, Jamie and Rebecca Allmendinger.