Debbie Savitt First

“ My life’s work has always centered around inclusion, influenced by my dad Bill Savitt, who owned a semi-pro baseball team, the Savitt Gems in Hartford Connecticut in the 1940s that included players of color.”   —-Debbie

Debbie has over 30 years of experience in strategic public relations, communications and development.

She has held positions as Senior Consultant at Fleishman-Hillard, Boston; Executive Vice President of Kortenhaus Communications; Development Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council;  Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.  Early in her career, she was Associate Dean of Admissions at Wheelock College and Executive Director of Action for Children’s Television; Sharon Elementary School fifth grade teacher.

She is currently active on not -for- profit Board committees.

Debbie is a member of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Board of Trustees;  a past member of Brigham & Women’s Hospital’s President’s Advisory Council; Vice Chair of the Handel and Haydn Society; Huntington Theatre Company Advisor, Loomis Chaffee School Head’s Council; Paradigm for Parity Communications Committee Chair; Brandeis University’s Women and Gender Studies Program former Co-chair;  Artists For Humanity former member of the Advisory Board; Judge Baker Children’s Center former and first woman Board Chair; Wheaton College.

former member of the President’s Commission.

Deborah has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Wheaton College and a Master of Education from Boston College.