"Each day I get to tell the stories of people I would never meet while sitting behind a desk. It always amazes me how generous people are with their time and their stories to help make their community a better place to live."

Leigh Checkstad joined the Action 7 News team in August 2007.

She traveled all the way from Elmira, New York, to get here. At WETM-TV in Elmira, she reported and anchored. Prior to that, she lived in Oak Hill, West Virginia, where she also worked as a reporter/anchor at WOAY-TV.

As a native Canadian, Leigh holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Communication, Culture and Information Technology from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, as well as a Master of Science degree in broadcast journalism from the well-respected Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.

The Syracuse Press Club and New York State Broadcaster's Association have also recognized Leigh for her journalistic excellence.

While New Mexico was never-before-seen territory for Leigh, stories of our sunny skies and moderate temperatures were a big draw. In her free time, she enjoys running and simply exploring all that the Land of Enchantment has to offer.

E-mail Leigh at: lcheckstad@hearst.com.