On September 3, 2010, I was fifty-three, a healthy, athletic, mother of 3 and a Stanford professor. The next day, I had a severe stroke. I was completely paralyzed on the right side of my body and even more distressing, lost ALL ability to communicate. My mind was working, but I was trapped inside a dysfunctional body. After six years of virtually full time therapy, I had come a long way--walking pretty well, independent living, and speech beginning to return. I began to re-engage, including returning to Stanford as an Adjunct Professor (not able to meet the demands of my previous role as tenured full-time faculty). I joined several boards, and realized that my two lives were actually very much connected.
My most recent book, "Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke" follows my journey to recover in addition to providing realistic expectations for the hard work needed to regain everyday capabilities. I focus on the less frequently documented journey to rebuild one's identity in recovery. Virtually every survivor is haunted by questions like: "Who am I now?" and "How do I rebuild a meaningful and rewarding life?" after losing so much of what they had before--capabilities, careers and jobs, relationships, and more. This is a book full of hope for survivors--from stroke or other injuries--as well as their families and support networks. Click here for Identity Theft book page.
As an academic I wrote about identity--how women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and others who are "different", can be true to themselves, while fitting into organizations enough to succeed, and even drive positive change. Now I'm writing about the experience of identity change--how people who have faced fundamental change in capability can strive not to rebuild "who they were", but rather focus on "who they are" and what they can do. I believe this journey is equally relevant to people who have suffered other debilitating changes like brain injury, cancer, heart disease--or are losing capacity simply because they are growing old.
Previous Work
As a tenured Stanford professor, an organizational scholar, author of two books and more than 50 chapters and articles, I taught hundreds of classes to graduate and undergraduate students. I made similar numbers of speeches about gender, diversity more broadly, organizational change and other topics, and have facilitated dozens of workshops -- for companies, non-profits, universities, executive groups, and other organizations -- sharing both research and practical strategies for building better, more inclusive organizations.
One of my most significant contributions from that period is my book Tempered Radicals (aka Rocking the Boat) which examines how people who are "different" can advance important changes from within organizations, and leadership practices that foster inclusive organizations. Click here to visit my Prior Works page.
Research Summary
Debra Meyerson conducts research in three areas: a) gender and race relations in organizations, specifically individual and organizational strategies of change aimed at removing inequities and fostering productive inter-group relations; b) the role of philanthropic organizations as intermediaries in fostering change within educational institutions; and c) going to scale in the charter school field.
Current Research
Following a stroke in 2010, Debra is now initiating research into the experience of stroke survivors in the rehabilitation process, the impact of gender and socioeconomic background on that process and its impact on a survivor's sense of identity.
Education
Ph.D., Organizational Behavior, Stanford University, 1989
M.S., Management, M.I.T., 1980
B.S., Political Science and Management, M.I.T., 1979
Time at Stanford
2013-present Consulting/Adjunct Professor of Education, Stanford University
2003-2013 Associate Professor (with tenure) of Education and (by courtesy) Business, Stanford University (on medical leave 2010-2013)
1998-2002, Visiting Professor of Organizational Behavior, Center for Work, Technology, and Organization, School of Engineering, Stanford University
1999-2002, Visiting Professor of Organizational Behavior, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University
1994-1996, Visiting Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University
Professional Experience
2019-present Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Stroke Onward, a nonprofit to support stroke survivors, their families, and healthcare professionals with more resources to effectively support the emotional journey in recovery.
1997-2002, Professor of Management, Center for Gender in Organizations, Graduate School of Management, Simmons College
1990-1994, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, University of Michigan Business School
1994, Visiting Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley
Courses Taught
Stanford University, School of Education
- Seminar on Organizations: Social Change Processes and Organizations (PhD)
- Organizing for Diversity: Opportunities and Obstacles
- Educational Leadership: Research, Policy, and Practice
- Leading Social Change: Cases in Educational and Social Entrepreneurship (co-listed through Graduate School of Business)
Stanford University, Graduate School of Business
- Leading Social Change: Cases in Educational and Social Entrepreneurship (co-listed through School of Education)
- Leadership in Diverse Organizations: Opportunities and Obstacles
- Learning to Lead (2 quarter course)
