Deborah Inez Bybee

The world lost a beautiful soul on September 14, 2019, when Dr. Deborah I. Bybee died at home, surrounded by loved ones. Born July 21, 1952 in Jefferson City, Missouri, Dr. Bybee received her Bachelors of Science in Education (summa cum laude) from the University of Missouri in 1973. Before moving to Michigan, Dr. Bybee was a volunteer for the Robert F. Kennedy presidential campaign, was director of Everyday People, a non-traditional, alternative social service organization, and volunteered with community radio station KOPN 89.5 FM. After working for social justice at the community level, she received her Master of Arts in 1980 and her Ph.D. in 1985, both in Ecological Psychology from Michigan State University. With her dissertation research, Dr. Bybee was an early pioneer of using experimental methods in community settings to develop innovative social justice programs. Her landmark research established new best practices for supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their families. Building on that work, she pursed advanced post-doctoral training in research methodology and statistics at the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago.

Dr. Bybee was a nationally- and internationally-recognized research methodologist and statistician specializing in social justice research on women and children’s health and well-being. She held faculty positions in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University and in the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan. Her research was supported by every major federal research institution, including the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Justice.

With colleagues at Michigan State University, Dr. Bybee’s research transformed services for victims of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Using Experimental Social Innovation and Dissemination practices, her longitudinal intervention research with IPV survivors impacted both policy and practice. Further, her statistical modeling was instrumental in establishing the importance of post-assault health care for rape victims and the need for specialized forensic nursing care for sexual assault survivors). With colleagues at the University of Michigan, Dr. Bybee provided her expertise to projects spanning community mental health, gender-based violence, trauma, parenting, and serious mental illness. The breadth and depth of her contributions across both universities demonstrate her expansive grasp of social issues, her methodological acumen, her seemingly unlimited energy and her kind, generous and skillful collaborative efforts.

Dr. Bybee’s research has had transformative impact, as policy makers throughout the U.S. and in countries around the world have drawn upon her work to improve programs for women and children. Her unwavering passion for justice, and determined commitment to exposing and dismantling oppressive structures, have exemplified how to advance social justice through research and scholarship.

True to her roots as educator, Dr. Bybee was a beloved mentor to generations of students. A gentle, patient teacher, she taught research methods and statistical workshops for decades, developing the skills and confidence of master’s and doctoral students in psychology, social work, nursing, public health, and other fields. She sat side-by-side with her students, guiding them through their statistical projects, challenging them to think deeply about each decision, pushing them to do higher quality work than they had ever imagined for themselves. Under her tutelage, students learned how science can be both rigorous and compassionate, and how complex statistical modeling can elevate women’s experiences and tell the stories of their strength and resilience.

Deb’s curiosity and love of learning made her an extraordinary gardener of outdoor vegetables and indoor exotic African violets, and she was an accomplished pianist, skilled chef, and avid reader. She loved the natural environment, canoeing, and the peace found upon the water, especially when accompanied by the sound of loons. Deb chose a green burial, knowing that her energy would continue to flow upon this earth. She will start this process at Ridgeview Memorial Gardens in Grandville, Michigan.

Deb is preceded in death by her parents Herbert and (Helen) Pauline Bybee (nee Bartholomew). She is survived by her partner Vivian D. Roeder, numerous loving friends, and generations of scholar-activists who carry on her commitment to social justice. Deb felt it was important that people know what they believed and what was important to them. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor her life and vision and their own beliefs, are asked to financially contribute to and/or donate their time to a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a fair, just, and non-violent world.