Deborah Snellen, SPHR, is a nationally recognized talent management strategist, educator, author, and facilitator with over 20 years of experience helping organizations achieve transformational leadership, cultural alignment, and sustainable performance excellence. Known for her strategic insight and engaging facilitation style, Deb has guided thousands of professionals and organizations toward stronger leadership, improved communication, and cohesive team performance.

Deb serves as an adjunct instructor at Lake-Sumter State College, where she brings real-world application to the Bachelor of Applied Science Leadership program. Her academic and professional roles merge seamlessly, creating a unique learning environment for students that blends theory with practice.

Deb was Executive Director of Organizational Development for the University of Missouri’s Office of Advancement where she led the implementation of a groundbreaking talent management program supporting the university’s $1.3 billion Our Time to Lead campaign. Her signature 4C Talent Management model—focusing on Culture, Capacity, Capability, and Careers—led to significant gains in retention, engagement, and leadership development. Under her leadership, turnover dropped below 5%, and over half of new hires were returning employees or internal transfers. Her work earned multiple national awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), including for her innovative use of the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI) to match donor communication styles with fundraising strategies.

A sought-after speaker and consultant, Deb has delivered more than 1,000 workshops across the country, consistently earning top ratings for her dynamic sessions on leadership, communication, management development, and team building. She was invited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to serve on the National Curriculum Committee for the Institute for Organization Management, where she helped revise leadership programming to reflect emerging trends in organizational change.

Deb is a proud three-time graduate of the University of Missouri, holding a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Master of Arts in Communication (formerly Speech and Dramatic Arts), and a graduate certificate in Online Learning. She currently serves on Mizzou’s Department of Communication Advisory Committee and on the Board of Trustees for the Jefferson Club. She has been honored with the Faculty Alumni Award (2008) and Tiger Pride Award (2010). She also served as President of the Mizzou Alumni Association and was the founding chair of the Griffiths Leadership Society for Women—an award-winning mentoring program connecting accomplished alumnae with upper-level students for professional growth.

Her commitment to developing others is reflected in her authorship of over 100 articles on leadership and organizational development. Her upcoming book, Scalable Talent Management: Proven People Strategies for Excellence in Organizations of Any Size, was released in Fall 2025.

Deb’s ability to align people strategies with business goals continues to make her a trusted advisor and catalyst for change across sectors.