LEADERSHIP

DEBRA A. BOWEN  

Debra was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System.  She achieved her undergraduate degree in Accounting from Temple University with honors.  At graduation she received the Emily Mulholland award, for having achieved outstanding scholarship, while working her way through school. 

She worked for the Internal Revenue Service where she was a member of the Instructor Corps that was responsible for both pre-employment, and on-the-job training, for both subordinates and Center Directors.  She later worked as Field Manager of Administration and Support for General Electric's Government Education Division.  As a result of her work, she was chosen as Manager of the Year. 

When GE closed Debra's division, she achieved a PA Real Estate License, opened her own accounting firm, and proceeded to survive.  Eventually she accepted the position of Director of Dailey Care, Inc., the non-profit organization founded by her Mother.  Their first project was to build a state-of-the-art Day Care Center for under-privileged children in North-Central Philadelphia.  She negotiated the building contract and supervised the construction and staffing.  The center now serves up to 50 children, providing them early childhood learning and computer literacy.  The center also provides breakfast, lunch, and snacks for the students to ensure that they receive minimally two nutritious meals daily.

Debra is the daughter of the late Louise Elizabeth Dailey.  She was a brilliant teacher of Torah and the Spiritual leader of Congregation Temple Bethel in Philadelphia.  Upon the passing of her Mother in 2001, Debra was chosen to carry on her mother's work.  She brings to the position almost 35 years of business expertise and professional management skills, coupled with undeniable dedication to the up-building of Congregation Temple Bethel.

Debra is currently an active member of Bechol Lashon, a Think Tank, sponsored by the Institute of Jewish & Community Research in San Francisco, dedicated to finding ways to create a culture of welcoming in the Jewish Community.  She has been privileged to take classes at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, PA and is the first African American to do so.