Debra Griffith

Debra Griffith is Alliance’s new Chief Equity Programs Officer (CEPO), a role that sees her leading the vision, strategy, creation, and implementation of programs that improve equitable outcomes for all scholars, centering on the experiences of their black and brown scholars. Her decisive and collaborative leadership helps build a thriving school culture that is equitable and inclusive while ensuring their scholar's graduate “college-ready.”

Debra has spent 25+ rewarding years in higher education as an executive, coach, trainer, and speaker. She brings deep, relevant knowledge and experience in equity, diversity, and inclusion that supports Alliance in achieving its strategic goals and transform the actions and behaviors of both school staff and scholars for the better.

Before joining Alliance, Debra held two roles at West Valley College (WVC)—first as the Dean of Equity and Success, then as the Vice President of Student Services, Diversity, and Inclusion—where she created and executed the university’s first Anti-Racism Action Plan(ARAP).

The ARAP Debra created for WVC was a shining beacon of equity and anti-racism. She led and coached 60+ personnel as part of the 3-year action plan to ensure team leads had the structure and knowledge to properly achieve the plan’s 7 key goals. One notable goal saw the university establishing multiple centers—including the Center for Identity Exploration and Inclusion and the LatinX, African American, and Pride Resource Centers—as well as the university’s first Food Pantry (Roots). “[Debra] has truly shifted the culture of the campus,” WVC’s president said of the plan.

Prior to her time at WVC, she spent 16 years at San Jose State University serving in a number of progressive leadership roles, the last two of which were the Associate Vice President of Transition Retention and Director of the Educational Opportunity Program.