Dr. Deborah Lynn Puntenney, Ph.D. Associate Director, Asset-Based Community Development Institute Research Assistant Professor, School of Education & Social Policy

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. is currently the Associate Director of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University, a member of the research faculty at Northwestern, and a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Chicago. She is also operates her own research and consulting firm specializing in the areas of asset-based community development, community based participatory research, program evaluation, and social justice strategies for philanthropic and nonprofit organizations. All of her work emphasizes strengthening neighborhood, nonprofit, philanthropic, and other organizations through the design and implementation of asset-oriented strategies.

Deborah teaches university courses in several topic areas, including the family in a changing society, US social welfare policy, asset-based community development, and gender and the life course. Her research and writing emphasize themes related to community, gender, social justice, and social policy.

Deborah has been working with John McKnight and Jody Kretzmann at the Asset-Based Community Development Institute for almost 20 years, first as a graduate research fellow, then Director of Research and Publications, and now Associate Director. In addition to authoring many of the institute’s publications, Dr. Puntenney has extensive experience working directly with community groups designing community-based participatory research projects, and partnering with them on the implementation of those efforts. Deborah's work with ABCD has taken her in a variety of directions, including exploring the application of asset-based community development principles to nonprofit settings. Her work with the Chicago Foundation for Women was published in the ABCD workbook series in a volume titled Building Sustainable Organizations from the Inside Out. Recently, she and Jody Kretzmann co-authored a chapter in an edited volume by Gary Paul Green, titled Mobilizing Communities: Asset Building as a Community Development Strategy (forthcoming 2009).

View Deborah Puntenney's CV.

Year		Degree		Institution
1997		PhD, Human Dev & Social Pol Human Development and Social Policy		Northwestern University
1992		MA, Human Dev & Social Pol Human Development and Social Policy		Northwestern University
1982		Bachelor of Arts		California State University at Humboldt

Year	Title
1997	Poor Mothers at Work: Balancing Family and Labor Market Responsibilities in an Inner City Community

Puntenney, Deborah; Grumm, Christine; Katz-Kishawi, Emily (2005). Women's Biggest Contribution: A View of Social Change in Clift, Elayne, Women, Philanthropy, and Social Change.

Puntenney, Deborah (2002). Book Review: Asset Building and Community Development. Journal of the American Planning Association: 320-21.

Deborah Puntenney (2000). Working at the Margins: Poor Mothers and Survival in the Inner City in Hodson, Randy, Marginal Employment: Research in the Sociology of Work.

Puntenney, Deborah (1999). The Work of Mothers: Strategies for Survival in an Inner-City Neighborhood. Journal of Poverty.

Puntenney, Deborah; Lewis, Dan; George, Christine (1999). Welfare Reform in Illinois: Recent Efforts in the Context of the National Debate in Joseph, Lawrence, Families, Poverty, and Welfare Reform.

Puntenney, Deborah (1997). The Impact of Gang Violence on the Decisions of Everyday Life. Journal of Urban Affairs.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (June, 2007). Forging Relationships Between Communities and Healthcare Organizations. Annual research meeting of AcademyHealth. Orlando, FL.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (May, 2007). International Museum of Women: Engaging Global Audiences Online. Annual meeting of the American Association of Museums. Chicago, IL.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (August, 2006). Work and Family Life Contextualized in Social and Political Contexts. Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. Montreal, Canada.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (August, 2005). The Unintended Consequences of Strategic Actions in the Movement to End Violence Against Women. Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. Philadelphia, PA.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (August, 2004). The Women’s Funding Movement: Investing in Long-Term Change. Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. San Francisco, CA.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (2004). Aging Well: An Asset-Based Approach. Annual joint meeting of the American Society on Aging and National Council on Aging. San Francisco, CA.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (2001). Victims of Violence: An Expanded Analysis of the Impact of Violence on Women. Annual meeting of the Urban Affairs Association. Detroit, MI.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (2001). Community Organizing for Asset-Based Development: Preliminary Findings from a National Working Grou. Annual meeting of the Urban Affairs Association. Detroit, MI.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (2000). Opening the Door for Citizen Involvement: Engaging Residents in the Planning Process and Beyond. Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. Washington, DC.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (1998). Neighborhood Planning from the Capacities Perspective. Annual meeting of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. New York, NY.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (1998). Poor Mothers at Work: Family Health Problems, Labor Market, and Caregiving Responsibilities. Annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. San Francisco, CA.

Deborah Puntenney, Ph.D. (1998). The Work of Mothers: Strategies for Survival in an Inner-City Neighborhood. Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. San Francisco, CA.

Deborah Puntenney (1996). Welfare Reform in Illinois: Recent Efforts in the Context of the National Debate. Annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. New York, NY.

Deborah Puntenney (1996). The Impact of Gang Violence on the Decisions of Everyday Life. Annual meeting of the Urban Affairs Association; Runner-up for the Best Conference Paper Award. New York, NY.

Deborah Puntenney (1996). Forging a Partnership Between a University and Public Housing Resident Organization. Annual meeting of the Midwest Sociological Society. Chicago, IL.

Year		Title		Source		Period		Amount		Status
2007		Impact Evaluation of KaBOOM!		KaBOOM!		2007 - 2008		$82,000		Funded
PI: Puntenney, Deborah   Kretzmann, John
2006		Imagining Ourselves Evaluation		International Museum of Women in San Francisco		2006 - 2007		$30,000		Funded
PI:
2002		Aging Well in Greater Lyons Township		Area Agency on Aging, Community Memorial Foundation, Township of Lyons, Chicago Community Trust		2002 - 2004		$30,000		Funded
PI:
2001		Mobilizing Local Associations for Healthy People 2010		US Department of Health and Human Services		2001 - 2003		$20,000		Funded
PI: Bernal, Raquel
1997		Taking Action in Savannah Communities		City of Savannah		1997 - 1998		$30,000		Funded
PI:
1994		Northwestern University Research Grant		Northwestern University		1994 - 1995		$1,000		Funded
PI:
1994		Developing Internal Markets		Amoco Foundation		1994		$20,000		Funded
PI:
1993		Persistent Poverty Project		Donor's Forum of Illinois		1993		$10,000		Funded
PI:

SESP 351		Philanthropy
Soc Pol 351		Social Policy Capstone
SESP 319		Family Development in a Changing Society This course critically examines the family as a social institution, and explores how it has been influenced and shaped by the shifting structure, demographics and needs of society. We will examine the changing function and structure of family units over time; how changing ideas about gender roles and work shape family development; and some of the common themes associated with the family, including love, marriage, wealth, poverty, divorce and violence. We will also look at contemporary issues in family formation and policy, and explore whether current policies are consistent with the reasons and manner in which people form families in the 21st century.
SESP 317		Gender and the Life Course How age and sex serve as a basis for the social construction of men's and women's lives.  How social forces operate to create contrasting life trajectories, role patterns, and transitions; the role of social policies.  Comparative view of different societies and periods in recent history.

Year		Organization		Position		Description
2007		Peace X Peace		Research Advisory Council
2007		Grantmaking School of Grand Valley State University of Michigan		Curriculum Development Consultant
2006		Hennepin County, Minnesota		Organizational Development Consultant
2006		Christopher House of Chicago		Organizational Development Consultant
2005		Chicago Foundation for Women		Organizational Development Consultant
2003		Juvenile and Child Protection Resource Section of the Circuit Court of Cook County		Community Development Consultant
2002		Chicago Wilderness		Community Development Consultant
2000		Grand Victoria Foundation of Illinois		Organizational Development Consultant

Year		Journal Name		Position
2002		Sociological Perspectives		Editorial Reviewer
2000		Journal of Poverty		Editorial Reviewer