In-Person Meetings for Classes on Monday, January 26, 2026 are Cancelled; Online/remote classes to be held as determined by Faculty.

Public Safety is tracking a significant snowfall that will be arriving in our area late Sunday morning (Jan. 25). It will snow heavily throughout the day and evening eventually tapering off Monday (Jan. 26) with 10-14 inches expected statewide. A sleet and freezing rain mix is also possible along the shore. Temperatures will be in the teens and twenties.

Due to this significant winter storm and the extensive campus clean-up operations that will need to take place, all in-person day and evening classes scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2026 have been cancelled. All scheduled in-person classes will transition to being held online or remotely. Additional information on the virtual format for each class will be provided by your instructor.

Faculty have been asked to prepare for Online or Remote sessions in the event of in-person meeting cancellations. These options will be determined by the Faculty member and all questions should be directed to the Faculty teaching each course section. Faculty also have been asked to be very understanding and accommodating of the individual situations of their students who may have difficulty managing these alternative online or remote class meetings on short notice.

Please note that only essential employees, as previously determined by their respective department leaders, should report to campus. All other employees should fulfill the requirements of their role remotely.

Campus operations for residential students, unless otherwise noted, will operate as scheduled, though hours may be modified or changed based on the conditions. Separate messages will be sent from the Peterson Library, the Beckerman Recreation Center, and Dining Services regarding any changes to their normal hours of operation. The Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation will remain open for residential students to use for study space and to participate in online classes.

Off-campus students that live in the City of West Haven should abide by the city’s parking ban during inclement weather to avoid having their vehicle tagged and towed. Please check the City of West Haven’s website for further information on their snow parking ban.

Leo Lester, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

National Security Department/Homeland Security
Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences

Education

Ph.D., University of Reading

B.A. (Hons), University of Oxford

About Leo

Dr. Leo Lester joined the faculty of the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven in 2017. He supports educational advisory work between the University of New Haven and overseas partners.

From 2013 to 2016, Dr. Lester was a research fellow at the King Abdullah Petrole um Studies and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he led multidisciplinary research teams looking at energy governance in northeast Asia and energy relations between the Middle and Far East. Dr. Lester has also supported various academic outreach programs, mentoring students and acting as a bridge between academia and the private sector.

Outside academia and research, Dr. Lester has held senior roles in the energy sector, including Director of Operations and Finance, and Director of Strategy; he has also worked in portfolio development for an international oil and gas company. Beyond the Middle East, he has lived in Hong Kong, India, Thailand and the UK.

He has a doctorate in theoretical evolutionary biology from the University of Reading (2006) and a B.A. (Hons) in Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford (2003). He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a certified Financial Risk Manager and holds a qualification in project management. He has published two books, written over two dozen articles, and given keynote speeches on a range of topics across Asia.

Academic Positions

Associate Professor (2017 - Present) – Department of National Security, Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT
Research Fellow (2013 - 2016) – King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

In the Media

Hue Wire: Will COVID-19 Lead To Uncertainty In Asia’s Energy Markets?

Leo Lester, associate professor of national security, co-wrote an op-ed on how the coronavirus may impact the energy markets.