DeBorah "Sunni" Smith

DeBorah "Sunni" Smith is an Adjunct Professor in the Management Department at Antioch University's Los Angeles campus. She combines her legal expertise with organizational development experience, focusing on leadership training, cultural competency, and bias/inclusion frameworks. Her career spans law, nonprofit management, and executive coaching.

• LLM, Public Policy Law, Georgetown University Law Center
• JD, The Catholic University of America, Communications Law Institute
• MS, Rehabilitation Counseling, Virginia Commonwealth University

Her research interests revolve around integrating Conversational Intelligence® into workplace dynamics, organizational behavior, and systemic approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has contributed to discussions on leadership and communication in professional settings.

Scientific Awards:

• Annenberg Summer Faculty Fellow (1991)
• CORO Foundation Fellowship (1992)

As an executive leadership coach and organizational strategist, she serves clients in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, leveraging decades of experience in board development, change theory, and public sector management. Her prior roles include advocacy work in social justice and international trade missions for underserved businesses.