Michael Leigh is Academic Director of the Master of Arts in European Public Policy, and Senior Adjunct Professor at SAIS Europe. 

Michael Leigh holds a Bachelors degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and a PhD in Political Science from M.I.T.

Michael Leigh holds a Bachelors degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and a PhD in Political Science from M.I.T. is distinguished visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund (GMF) of the United States and was previously senior fellow at Bruegel; he has served as senior advisor, Covington & Burling LLP, Brussels; earlier he was Director-General for Enlargement of the European Commission (2006-2011); Deputy Director-General for External Relations (2003-2006); cabinet member and official, European Commission (1977-2003); Assistant Professor of International Relations, SAIS Bologna Center (1976-1977); Lecturer in International Relations University of Sussex (1974-1976). Erskine Fellow (2017) University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He received the KCMG award for his services to the European Commission.

His research, writing and public speaking focus on the future of the EU, enlargement, EU foreign and security policy; transatlantic relations; Turkey's relations with the EU; energy questions in the eastern Mediterranean; He writes and comments on European affairs for Geopolitical Intelligence Services reports online, Euractiv, EUalive, and other media.