About the Namesake and Fund
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Harold passed away on March 20, 2026, at the age of 86. While he will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and former students, his legacy will continue through the countless lives he shaped during his extraordinary career at UVM.
We invite you to honor Harold’s remarkable legacy with a gift to the Kessler-Leitenberg Futures Fund. Established to support Clinical Psychology PhD students, the fund helps ensure future generations of students have access to the same transformative educational experiences and opportunities that Harold dedicated his career to creating.
By making a gift in Harold’s memory, you are honoring an extraordinary professor, mentor, and scholar whose impact on the University of Vermont and the field of psychology will be felt for generations. Your support will also help ensure future Clinical Psychology PhD students have access to the same transformative opportunities, mentorship, and education that Harold dedicated his life to creating.
Additional information
For more than six decades at the University of Vermont, Professor Harold Leitenberg devoted his life to advancing the field of psychology through his teaching, scholarship, research, and mentorship.
A pioneer in cognitive behavior therapy, Harold helped shape generations of graduate students who went on to make a lasting impact in their own communities and professions. Throughout the 1970s, he was instrumental in building UVM’s Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program into a nationally respected model focused on research, evidence-based practice, and preparing students to become agents of meaningful social change.
In 1972, he founded the University of Vermont Behavior Therapy Center, later renamed the Leitenberg Center of Evidence-Based Practice in recognition of his profound contributions to the field. His influence extended far beyond the classroom, as countless former students remained deeply grateful for his mentorship, generosity, and friendship throughout their lives.
Remembering Harold Leitenberg
Established to support Clinical Psychology PhD students, the fund helps ensure future generations of students have access to the same transformative educational experiences and opportunities that Harold dedicated his career to creating.