Deborah Shefler, Secretary

Deborah started her legal career in the Honors Program of the US Department of Justice, litigating pattern and practice cases in the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Section. She handled cases against public and private employers and defended challenges to the federal governments affirmative action requirements for contractors. After moving to California, she worked as an Assistant US Attorney in the Northern District, handling a wide variety of civil suits against federal agencies. 

Following 11 years with the government, she shifted to private practice and became a commercial litigation partner in the firm of Steinhart and Falconer, which was acquired by Piper Rudnick LLP. She spent the last 20 years of her career in the Law Department of Pacific Gas & Electric Co., where she defended the company in state court and litigated rate and other regulatory matters before the CA Public Utilities Commission. Deborah volunteered for over 20 years as an arbitrator/mediator for the San Francisco Superior Court, and as an Early Neutral Evaluator for the US District Court. 

Since retiring, Deborah has served on several boards, including as President of the League of Women Voters of Oakland. For several years, she was President of the board of an NGO that trains health care providers in developing nations to screen for the precursors of cervical cancer. She is currently a Board member of Friends of Ruwenzori Foundation, which provides financial support to a health care and community development facility in Uganda. She earned her JD from George Washington University, where was a member of the Order of the Coif. Deborah grew up in Arlington, VA, and now lives with her husband in Stephen in Oakland, CA. 

Deborah is the Secretary of the Board and serves on the Executive and Grant Committees of the Board.