Dr. Deborah Mohammed-Spignerora
IGEPS Affiliate Practicioner
Dr. Debra Mohammed-Spignerora is an accomplished social equity and strategic planning consultant with more than 25 years of experience across the public, nonprofit, academic, and private sectors. Her expertise includes strategic planning, program evaluation, grant development, policy design, data analysis, and community engagement. Grounded in evidence-based practice and a commitment to equity, she helps organizations strengthen performance and improve outcomes for underserved populations. She earned a Doctorate in Public Administration from Rutgers University in 2009.
Leadership and Impact
As Founder and CEO of Dynamic Management Services (DMS), a woman-led, minority-owned start-up based in central New Jersey, Dr. Mohammed-Spigner helps small and medium enterprises build the capacity, practices, and governance structures needed to adopt artificial intelligence safely, ethically, and effectively. Her record of organizational transformation includes leading large-scale strategic planning initiatives, securing more than $2.5 million in competitive grant funding, and developing evidence-based policies that strengthen performance and equity outcomes. Her approach combines rigorous analysis, practical implementation, and responsible innovation.
Institute for Social Equity and Sustainability
In 2021, Dr. Mohammed-Spigner founded the Institute for Social Equity and Sustainability (ISE&S), a nonprofit that equips other nonprofit organizations with research-based, equitable tools and resources to expand social impact and better serve vulnerable communities. She leads researchers and practitioners studying gender equity and translating findings into workplace practices, including AI-driven tools designed to support leadership opportunities for women.
Dr. Mohammed-Spigner recruited the founding board, established governance bylaws, and formed committees for planning, fundraising, and communications. Under her leadership, ISE&S secured grant funding for a research-based initiative helping human services nonprofits adopt evidence-based practices and policies to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion outcomes. In 2023, the board developed a five-year strategic plan. During 2024–2025, it implemented communications and fundraising strategies and launched a dynamic website featuring an AI-enabled resource for accessing peer-reviewed social equity research.
Academic Roles, Research and Publications:
Dr. Mohammed-Spigner has taught in public administration programs at Rutgers University and Kean University in New Jersey. From 2018 to 2020, she served in a full-time role as program director at Kean University. Her published research has been presented at conferences across multiple disciplines.
Professional Activities:
Dr. Mohammed-Spigner has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, contributing expertise in policy, governance, and research. She was elected twice to her local board of education, where she chaired the equity and policy committees. In 2020, she was appointed to the Mayor’s Equity Committee and helped research best practices for improving policing. The committee’s report and recommendations were adopted by the town council. In 2008, she received the YMCA Minority Achievers’ Award for her contributions to the community.