Dr. Freeland is an attorney, a scientist, and an academic with a varied career that includes teaching, research, and practice in fields ranging from environmental science and policy, to intellectual property, to immunology, to women’s studies, to legal ethics. Deborah’s community service has focused primarily on supporting students from underserved communities as they explore careers in the scientific and legal professions, and on environmental restoration. She is excited to share both the wild and the cultivated beauty of Filoli with a growing community.
Deborah began her career as a freelancer with the San Francisco Ballet. She then earned her BA in Cognitive Science and Biochemistry from Vassar College, her Ph.D. in Biophysics from Stanford University, and her J.D. from Stanford Law School.
Filoli is dedicated to nurturing and growing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in all that we do. Our core mission is to connect our rich history with a vibrant future through beauty, nature, and shared stories.
Latinos LEAD promotes more inclusive and effective civil society organizations by preparing and recruiting Latinos for nonprofit board leadership; helping nonprofit organizations to develop governing boards that reflect their constituents; and, collaborating with partners to increase ethnic diversity in nonprofit governance.