Debra L. Hammond has more than 40 years of experience in higher education and currently serves as the Executive Director of the University Student Union (USU) at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). The USU is a 501 (3)(c) non-profit organization governed primarily by students. In 2013, she opened a $60 million Student Recreation Center as well as a Pride (LGBTQ) Center, a Veterans Resource Center, and a state-of-the-art Oasis Wellness Center, as part of her areas of responsibilities. She is currently in the process of planning a $130 million renovation/new construction project for the USU. She also serves as a faculty member in the Michael D. Eisner College of Education. She teaches in the college counseling student services program where she received the Outstanding Professor of the Year Award in 2012. She received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in educational administration from California State University, Los Angeles.

She is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) where she has served in a number of volunteer capacities, including President and Co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. In 2002, she received the Association’s highest honor, the Butts-Whiting Award for outstanding service to the association and the profession. At CSUN, she served as the Interim Assistant Vice President for Student Life, as a member of the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC) Accreditation Team, and she heads the Division of Student Affairs program review efforts. Hammond has presented educational sessions on a variety of topics including strategic thinking, leadership, change management, executive presence, goal setting and achievement, and political savvy at a number of professional associations including the Auxiliary Organizations Association (AOA), Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). She has conducted program reviews at a number of student unions throughout the country.

For her body of work, the California State University (CSU) selected Debra from among the CSU’s 23 campuses as its outstanding staff member of 2016. The Wang Family Excellence Award is the highest award presented to an administrator by the CSU. She was recognized for her meritorious commitment and dedication to advance the CSU’s mission, bringing benefit and credit to the CSU, and enhancing the CSU’s excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Debra also received the San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Women in Business Awards Luncheon for her accomplishments as a woman in business. Most recently, she received the Don Dorsey Excellence in Mentoring Award from CSUN for her legacy in mentoring students, faculty and staff at the university and beyond.

Debra is also committed to serving her community. In 2019, she completed several years of service on the Board of Directors of the Mid Valley YMCA. She also has served on the boards of several non-profit community-based organizations including: Book Ends, Ensemble Theatre Company, ’75 Scholarship Committee. She is a proud member of the African American Board Leadership Institute (AABLI).