Debra Wiley, M.A., J.D.

Debra is based in Alexandria, Virginia, and has been associated with Roberts Fund and the Civility Center for Law Italy seminars since the inaugural class of 2011.

A graduate of Seattle University School of Law, Debra practiced briefly in Tacoma and was Executive Director of the Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution before joining the U.S. Department of Education. She served as the first Federal Student Aid Ombudsman and later as Senior Advisor for Customer Experience, until leaving federal service in late 2012. Debra also holds an M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She was formerly with state higher education agencies in Colorado and Virginia and a coordinator of the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP). Known for her intense interest in conflict resolution, consumer issues, and end-user perspectives, Debra focuses on program and policy development to minimize conflict and maximize efficiency. She is also a licensed tour guide for the District of Columbia and is a member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, DC.