Distinguished as a visionary leader and advocate for social change, Cathy DeForest, PhD, has made an impact through her extensive career in education, nonprofit leadership and the arts. Since 2015, she has served as the founder and executive director of Visioning Beyond Violence, an organization dedicated to empowering communities to address gun violence by integrating arts education with systemic change initiatives. Under Dr. DeForest’s guidance, Visioning Beyond Violence has expanded its reach across 10 states while engaging participants ranging in age from 3 to 96. She fosters visionary thinking by guiding youth and adults alike to see themselves as agents of change who can improve the safety of their neighborhoods, schools and families.
Concurrently with her responsibilities at Visioning Beyond Violence, Dr. DeForest has operated Gallery DeForest since 2004. Located in Ashland, Oregon, this working studio has hosted nearly 40 exhibitions. Her work with Gallery DeForest builds on her previous experience founding a cooperative gallery in the Bay Area that continued to provide opportunities for local artists for more than a decade after her relocation to Oregon.
Before founding Visioning Beyond Violence, Dr. DeForest established Jubilation Press in 2008. Through this independent letterpress printing company, she produced artist books that have been collected by university libraries and featured in special collections worldwide. Though she shifted her focus from personal artistic pursuits to nonprofit work, she remains passionate about printmaking.
Earlier in her career, Dr. DeForest devoted more than 15 years to her role as the president of Creative Development Inc., where she consulted with Fortune 500 companies, school systems, nonprofit organizations and government agencies on strategic planning and organizational development. As an internal consultant at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, she worked closely with scientists and engineers on team-building initiatives while mentoring women in science and mathematics. Dr. DeForest began her professional journey as a high school English teacher in Pennsylvania and Florida. Her experiences working with both advanced students and those facing reading challenges informed her understanding of the critical role education plays in shaping life trajectories.
Dr. DeForest’s academic background laid the foundation for her multifaceted career. She began her education with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Pittsburgh in 1968. The next year, Dr. DeForest obtained a dual Master of Arts and Master of Education in English literature from Boston College. Subsequently, she earned a PhD in organization development from the University of Pittsburgh in 1974.
Throughout her career, Dr. DeForest has maintained active membership in several industry-related organizations. Her affiliations include: Women We Admire since 2015; the Guild of Book Workers since 2010; the Southern Oregon Photographic Association since 2006; the California Society of Printmakers since 2000; the Pacific Center for the Book Arts since 1997; the Bay Area Organization Development Network from 1978 to 2000; the Artist Conference Network Inc.; and Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Among her many achievements, Dr. DeForest is most proud of her efforts to address challenging and traumatic issues through art. These endeavors include being part of a project now housed at Columbia University, where 500 artists responded to a car bombing targeting booksellers, and producing “Ink and Blood,” an artists’ book featured alongside 50 artists at The American University in Cairo. Dr. DeForest’s creative output includes contributions to the 2026 film “The Missing Word” and 2025’s “Addressing Gun Violence: Amplifying Visionary Storytellers and Change Makers.” She has presented at national conferences and international exhibitions, and her work can be found in special collections at the Library of Congress and numerous university libraries.
Dr. DeForest has garnered several accolades, including being recognized as a Women We Admire awardee in 2025. In 2018, she received an Innovation Grant from the John Legend Foundation’s National Writing Project. Dr. DeForest extends her civic engagement beyond her primary vocation through mentorship and support to young people and Black, Indigenous and people of color communities. She is a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has collaborated with major gun violence prevention organization.
Born in Pittsburgh to a family shaped by immigrant roots, Dr. DeForest was inspired early on by her father’s sacrifices for his siblings’ welfare and his determination to provide educational opportunities for his daughters. She now has a family of her own, including two sons, four stepdaughters and two grandchildren. Dr. DeForest’s husband, Leon Pyle, also holds a PhD. The couple enjoys traveling, visiting museums and supporting artists in whatever ways they can.
Looking ahead, Dr. DeForest envisions continuing to expand Visioning Beyond Violence by cultivating additional partners nationwide while maintaining financial sustainability. She hopes to further increase awareness of the organization through involvement in various documentaries and expanded projects. Dr. DeForest’s legacy is defined by persistent advocacy for social justice, innovative integration of art into community healing and steadfast mentorship that empowers future generations.