Leas most recently served as president of Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Washington from 2012 to 2020.
Leas is an advocate of "asynchroncity", an approach to education that "dismisses the longstanding model of teachers lecturing in a fixed place and time while students listen".
Leas received his undergraduate education from Florida State University (FSU), where he earned a bachelor's degree (B.A.)
Leas has spoken about his negative experience registering for classes on his first day at FSU, which he credits with inspiring him to reform the education system:"We got a pack of IBM cards and lined up in the gym for registration...
While at Riverland, Leas became a member of the American Association of Community Colleges' (AACC) Committee on Global Education in 2008.