Dr. Deborah S. Foreman Speller is a life member of NCNW and has served as an active member in the Northern Virginia Section for several years. She spearheaded the Section’s International Affairs affiliation with the Ghana 16 Humanitarian Delegation and delivered school supplies, and clothing for the Day For Girls 100 Kits to Accra, Ghana on behalf of Nova NCNW during the Summer 2021. These kits helped to ensure the young ladies have access to the menstrual supplied and tools- whether it’s through local social enterprises or our international volunteer base. As a result, more women and girls have the health products, knowledge, and support they need to stay in school, pursue income-generating opportunities and experience improved upward mobility.
Mrs. Foreman-Speller has been affiliated with George Mason University (GMU) School of Social Work department for over 20 years. She first served as a field instructor for GMU while being employed as a school social work administrator for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), served on the GMU Social Work department advisory board, and after her retirement from FCPS in 2010, was hired by GMU to serve as a BSW field liaison. She has also worked in variety of social work settings such as: SAJA Bruce Runaway House, Norfolk and Fairfax County Department of Family services, and as a Fairfax County Public Schools’ pupil services administrator. She was the first social worker to serve in this role that had been held by special educator administrators and school psychologists. Foreman was appointed and served on the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Court Advisory Council for 10 years and served on the Supervised Visitation and Exchange Task Force for Fairfax County, Virginia. On May 9, 2019, Mrs. Foreman-Speller, an adjunct faculty member in the College of Social Work, was recognized by the GMU provost for her work on the inaugural Adjunct Faculty Council Taskforce created in 2015. She served on the newly created Adjunct Faculty Council for two terms. She served as the president of Northern Virginia Alumni Chapter of Norfolk State University, 2007 Ms. Alumni, Correspondence Secretary of the National Norfolk State University Alumni board, and President of the Janice M. Scott (9/11 victim) Memorial Scholarship Fund Board. She has been recognized and received numerous awards for professional accomplishments such as: Fairfax County Lifetime Achievement Award, George Mason University Chi Chapter Phi Alpha Honor Society for Outstanding Contributions to Social Work Education, Virginia Educators Association Fitz Turner Award, Who’s Who Outstanding Young Women of America, 2000 Who’s Who in the World, ARC Riggs Bank Educational Leadership, and Distinguished Norfolk State University Alumni. She has published articles in the area of domestic violence prevention and cultural diversity; completed leadership training at Oxford University in the United Kingdom and recently presented in Amsterdam, Holland at the DKG Educators Europe Regional Conference.
Currently married to Mr. James Speller, Foreman and her late husband, Phillip Foreman, have two daughters, Deidra Foreman, MD and Phylicia Foreman, MBA. She has three grandchildren. Mrs. Foreman-Speller is a member of the Norfolk State University Athletic Foundation Association Board and created an endowed scholarship for NSU students and supported Athletic Foundation golf events by donating and volunteering. She is a proud and active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc where she serves as co-chair of Alumnae Chapter’s International Awareness and Involvement.
NoVA NCNW IN THE COMMUNITY
