Meet Rev. Debra
I am a sexologist minister, which may surprise you! As a nonprofit executive, parish minister, author, educator, trainer, consultant, and public speaker, my life's work has been dedicated to transforming institutions and individual lives by promoting sexual and reproductive health. I have created numerous national initiatives and have worked with hundreds of organizations, congregations, denominations, seminaries, and governmental agencies. I have served churches in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY; Westport, CT; Reston, VA; and Santa Cruz County, CA.
I am the author of seven books, including the award winning From Diapers to Dating, which has been translated into 12 languages. I have provided education and training to tens of thousands of health, education, and religious professionals, and I have been a Visiting Professor at four seminaries. I have consulted with hundreds of national organizations and government agencies, including
- National Academy of Sciences
- National AIDS Commission
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters
- National Council of Churches
- U.S. Coast Guard
- UUA
- United Methodist Church
- Jewish Theological Seminary
I have appeared on such TV shows as
- Today
- Good Morning America
- The View
- Oprah
- CNN
- Larry King Live
- Dateline
- Donahue
In addition to congregational and non-profit leadership, my expertise includes parenting, adolescent sexuality, LGBTQ+ justice, sexual abuse prevention, and how to safely include people with a history of sex offenses in a congregation. I create new opportunities for people and organizations to collaborate and transform, including creating the
- National Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education
- National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education
- Adolescent Sexual Health Commission
- Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing
- Safer Sex Best Practices Congregation Initiative
- Reston Pride
During the first three years of my ministry at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston, membership grew by 49%.
My work has been honored by such national organizations as Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Society for Adolescent Medicine and I have received the highest alumni recognition awards from the Yale School of Public Health and Union Theological Seminary. In 2011, Widener University awarded me an Honorary Doctor of Public Service for my lifetime of work in sexuality education.
I hold a BA from Wesleyan University, an MPH from the Yale School of Medicine, and M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary, and a D.Min. from the Pacific School of Religion.
