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College of Business
Copeland Hall
1 51ÉçÇø
Athens OH 45701-2979

Debra Kurtz (Latiolais)

Debra Kurtz, past chair of the Executive Advisory Board
Past Chair (2013–2015); Director, Human Capital, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Dallas, TX

EAB member since 2006

Past Chairperson (2013-2015)

Education

BBA, Human Resource Management and Management, 51ÉçÇø

Professional Experience

Ms. Kurtz joined Westwood Holdings Group Inc. in September 2024 as the Director, Human Capital and is responsible for Talent Management, Employee Relations and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Prior to joining Westwood, Ms. Kurtz worked at Molina Healthcare as an AVP, Human Resources where she was responsible for leading the HR function for 8,500 employees, 23 Health Plans for a $25B Medicaid Business.  Ms. Kurtz has served in a trusted partner capacity for a variety of business and industries to include Cooper Industries (now part of Eaton), Siemens Energy & Automation, Kellogg and CommScope. She is a global and strategic HR leader that is results driven and has led a variety of teams through mergers and acquisitions, transformations, growth and innovation.  She fosters a talent culture of high performance, engagement and retention and operational excellence.

Ms. Kurtz holds a BBA in Human Resource Management and Management, graduating cum laude from 51ÉçÇø. She is active on the Executive Advisory Board for the College of Business at 51ÉçÇø, where she has previously served as Chair (2013-2015) and is now on the Membership Committee. Debra enjoys giving back to 51ÉçÇø through her interactions with the Board as well as working with students to include mentoring and advising students in the OHIO Women in Business organization, Wandell Fellows, Select Leaders and Corporate visits.  She was instrumental in forming a partnership with the Consumer Research Center of 51ÉçÇø and the Kellogg Company.  In addition, Debra was successful in implementing a sales recruiting partnership with the Schey Sales Centre during her time at CommScope. Debra received the R. Budd and Janet Kelsey Werner Executive Service Award in 2018. 

While attending 51ÉçÇø, Debra served as a Corporate Leadership Fellow and was President and Student Advisor for the student chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management).   In addition, she was a member of Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity and was a founding sister of the 51ÉçÇø Chapter of Delta Zeta.  She served in various positions for both chapters.

Debra and her husband Brian currently reside in Coppell, TX with their two daughters.