Deborah Bial

Deborah Bial is an education strategist, the founder and president of the Posse Foundation, and a trustee of Brandeis University. As an American educator, she is a graduate of Brandeis University and Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Bial is known for the innovative concept of her foundation, which sends talented young people from diverse backgrounds in "posses" of approximately ten students at a time to cooperating universities, with the intention that the students in each posse will support each other and achieve a greater success rate. This unique approach has led her to be featured in Forbes in an article titled "Revolutionary Educators." She is also known for the Bial–Dale College Adaptability Index, an activity-based college readiness test incorporating Lego play.

She won the MacArthur "Genius" Award in 2007 and the Harold W. McGraw Prize in Education in 2013. Recognized for her profound impact in the field of education, she has been awarded honorary degrees from multiple universities, including Brandeis University, Hamilton College, Colby College, Agnes Scott College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and The College of Wooster. Bial is a thought leader and an inspiring speaker who frequently addresses college graduations. She has delivered commencement speeches at several universities, including her alma mater, Brandeis University in 2012.