Debra is an experienced leader who has worked for international organizations, non-profits, and academic institutions.  She has spent her recent career fundraising, grant writing, and event planning for the former Prime Minister of Spain, Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, and programming development for the Bay Area Jewish Community Centers (JCC). 

Her passion for animals started young, and was shaped by her upbringing, surrounded by many animals of all sizes, and working with various veterinarians, including at Yale University’s Division of Animal Care. She has a BS in Animal Science, a master’s in education, and has studied riding with a United States Equestrian Team member, as well as Equine Assisted Therapy from Natural Lifemanship in Brenham, Texas. 

She has since trained in leadership and executive coaching, and her leadership philosophy is focused on creating a sense of unity among her teams, instilling ownership, passion and shared purpose in each member as stakeholders in the mission. 

Debra lives with her Chihuahua, Yossi, loves to hike and to create art in her spare time. 

“With 17 years of major gift fundraising, I’m looking forward to leveraging my skills, connections, and relationships to help Jasper Ridge flourish and expand. I know first-hand the powerful healing role animals play in our lives.”