Prior to her arrival at MA, she taught the core design studio at Cornell University. She has over 10 years of experience in leading design in residential, mixed use, commercial, hospitality and cultural projects. Lea received her masters in architecture from Cornell University, where she focused on sustainability. In 2016, she received the Eidlitz Fellowship, whose support she used to study earth architecture techniques in Latin America. Lea earned her Bachelor of Architecture degree from La Universidad de Los Andes in Merida, Venezuela, her hometown.