Debra Mesch

Debra Mesch is a Professor and Director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Indianapolis. Her research focuses on gender and philanthropy, nonprofit management, and human resource management. She has held roles at Northeastern University and Simmons College prior to joining IUPUI in 1992.

Education:

• Ph.D., Organizational Behavior/Human Resource Management, Kelley School of Business at Indiana University (1990)
• M.B.A., Kelley School of Business, Indiana University (1989)
• M.S., Vanderbilt University (1976)
• B.S., University of Cincinnati (1974)

Her work bridges gender studies and nonprofit sector analysis, examining charitable giving behaviors, volunteer dynamics, and cross-cultural philanthropy. Recent publications explore topics such as gender disparities in giving and the influence of social trust on volunteerism.

Awards:

• IUPUI Jaguars Favorite Professor Award (2006)
• Indiana University LEAD Program Participant (2007)
• Women Creating Excellence at IUPUI Honoree (2010)
• America’s Top 20 Women in Philanthropy (2014)

Her contributions include leadership in the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, advancing understanding of women’s roles in charitable ecosystems. Research often intersects with policy implications for nonprofit sustainability and social innovation.