Women’s Policy Expert – Debra Fitzpatrick

March 26, 2009

fitzpatrick

Debra Fitzpatrick, Associate Director of the Center on Women and Public Policy, received her M.A. from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota and her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota.  As Associate Director with the Center on Women and Public Policy, Debra is responsible for leading major, multi-year research projects and designing and implementing Center programs such as women legislator retreats and Front Runners: Women with Political Ambition, a peer support and training program for young women interested in electoral politics.  In partnership with the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, she directs the Status of Minnesota Women project (a project that systematically examines key indicators for women and girls in Minnesota, raises public awareness of issues important to the lives of women and girls, and identifies policy solutions for decision makers).  She also leads the Center’s research efforts in the area of women and electoral politics, including a longitudinal study (Women’s Path to Political Office) examining the effectiveness of various programs designed to elect more women and the experiences and success rates of male and female candidates for the Minnesota legislature between 1998 and 2008.

Ms. Fitzpatrick has a long and successful track record managing large scale, multi-year, multi-million dollar programs and projects that include research and professional development components.  Before coming to the CWPP, Ms. Fitzpatrick served as a Program Director for the Center for School Change, conducting multi-million dollar, multi-year research projects on education policy with partners such as the National Governors Association and the Gates Foundation.  Previously, Ms. Fitzpatrick served as the coordinator for a $30 million/30 FTE national A.I.D.S. clinical trials network.  In this role, Ms. Fitzpatrick developed and carried out workshops to increase the knowledge and involvement of women and ethnic minorities in the design of clinical trials.   Before coming to the University of Minnesota, Ms. Fitzpatrick worked with the Minnesota State Senate for seven years and served as the Committee Administrator for the Senate Education Committee.

Debra began her career running political campaigns and now enjoys volunteering for women candidates at various levels.  She lives with her 12 year old daughter, 8 year old son, a conure parrot, and four gerbils just outside of downtown St. Paul in the Mississippi River valley.   In her rare free time she studies and practices Zen Buddhism and paints in water colors.