Guided by Principle, Driven by Change: Insights on Transformative Leadership from University Presidents Globally

Devorah A. Lieberman, PhD, is an internationally recognized higher education leader, scholar, and advisor whose career has been defined by institutional transformation, inclusive excellence, and global engagement. A former university president and current senior advisor to higher education leaders worldwide, she brings rare depth as both a practitioner and analyst of presidential leadership across cultural, political, and organizational contexts.Lieberman served for twelve years as President of the University of La Verne in California, where she led the institution through significant growth, financial strengthening, and expanded global and community partnerships. Under her leadership, the university nearly doubled its operating budget, quadrupled its endowment, and gained national recognition for social mobility and student success-outcomes achieved during a period marked by demographic shifts, financial pressures, and unprecedented global disruption. She was the first woman to serve as president in the university's long history.
Beyond the U.S., Lieberman has worked extensively with presidents, governing boards, and ministries of education across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. She currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer for the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) and as a Senior Advisor to the American Council on Education, roles that place her at the center of global conversations about presidential leadership, governance, crisis management, and institutional resilience.
A former faculty member and trained intercultural communication scholar, Lieberman's work bridges theory and practice. Her research, teaching, and writing focus on leadership in complex systems, cross-cultural decision-making, gender and power, and the evolving role of the university president in a volatile global environment. She is the author and editor of multiple books on presidential leadership, including Spotlighting Female Leadership: Strategies, Stories, Perspectives, and her work is widely used by presidents, governing boards, and leadership development programs worldwide.
Lieberman holds a PhD in Intercultural Communication and Gerontology from the University of Florida and has received numerous honors for her leadership, including national and international recognition for advancing access, equity, and institutional excellence.
Drawing on decades of experience as a president, advisor, and global observer, Lieberman writes with clarity, candor, and credibility about what it truly means to lead universities in an interconnected world. healthcare, and corporate sectors. Her services encompass strategic visioning, philanthropy, crisis management, government relations, board development and governance, and executive coaching.