Debbie Gowensmith, M.S., is vice-president of Groundswell Services, Inc., dedicated to strengthening equity-building movements. She provides consultation in evaluation and community-based research, specializing in network facilitation and evaluation.
Debbie has found networking to be a key component in developing innovative, powerful ideas that catalyze social change. Her experience includes six years directing an organization that empowered Hawaiian communities to reclaim stewardship of the places where they live, work and play. Through networking, dozens of isolated Hawaiian communities more quickly and effectively created dynamic community-driven resource management projects that are changing conservation in Hawai‘i.
Debbie received her M.S. in International Economic Development from Eastern University in 2002 and is currently working toward her Ph.D. in Research Methods and Statistics at the University of Denver. She has more than a decade of experience as an evaluation practitioner, specializing in culturally responsive, participatory evaluation methods as well as evaluation of collaborative networks.
Prior to returning to academia, she spent almost two decades working with multicultural community groups on three continents to pursue environmental, economic, and educational goals.
debbie.groundswell@gmail.com