About Debra

Raised in the rural mining town of Boron, California, Debra Brady learned early the values of hard work, resilience, and community. As a first-generation college graduate, she earned a degree in Psychobiology from UCLA before pursuing a lifelong commitment to serving others through ministry and community leadership.

Today, Debra proudly calls Modesto home, where she continues to invest in the community she loves. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Modesto Rotary Club and the American Leadership Forum – Great Valley Chapter, where she has been a Senior Fellow since 2010. She is a proven leader with 11 years of corporate experience, 30 years leading faith communities, and 24 years of civic leadership in Modesto. Debra demonstrate effective leadership by building on what is working while addressing challenges. She values collaboration over division. Over decades of working with people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs, she has learned to have hard conversations and solve problems together. 

Outside of public service, Debra enjoys hiking, Pilates, traveling, reading, cheering on the San Francisco Giants, solving New York Times puzzles, singing, and spending time with family and friends.