Awards

Partners in Philanthropy - 2024

Herman B Wells Visionary Award

Bicentennial Medal - 2020

Presidents Circle Laurel Pin - 2013

Founder

About Deborah Tobias

Indianapolis-native Deborah F. Tobias graduated from the University of Dayton in 1973 in secondary education and was the operations director of the United Kingdom & Ireland offices of Juniper Networks, a manufacturer of networking equipment.

In 2017 with her husband Randall, they founded the Randall L. and Deborah F. Tobias Center for Innovation in International Development at the School of Global and International Studies to spearhead research and identify innovative approaches to international assistance while serving as a training ground for the next generation of leaders in the field of development assistance. Prior to that she had executive roles at technology firms including Infotron, StrataCom and Cisco Systems. She is a former trustee of the University of Dayton, former director of the Catholic Youth Organization in Indianapolis, and former director of the Indianapolis City Ballet and the United Way's "Ready to Learn Ready to Earn" child literacy program. She currently serves as vice chair of the board of Methodist Health Foundation in Indianapolis and is a partner of the Women's Philanthropy Council at Indiana University.

For her unwavering philanthropy to IU, the IU Foundation inducted Deborah into the Presidents Circle at the Founder level. In 2020, Tobias was awarded Indiana University's Bicentennial Medal in recognition of her distinguished contributions to the university, and in 2024 she received the Partners in Philanthropy Herman B Wells Visionary award.