Dr. Debra Mynar-Kowalchuk is the founder of Social Success Stories and a community engagement strategist who helps businesses, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations create communities that foster meaningful connection and member belonging.

Long before online communities became a strategic priority for organizations, Dr. Mynar-Kowalchuk was helping build them. Her work began while attending The Pennsylvania State University, where she recognized the challenges faced by adult learners seeking connection in a commuter environment. As a member of the Adult Learner Advisory Council, she advocated for adult student engagement initiatives designed to improve the learner experience. 

In 2009, she moved to Penn State's World Campus where degree programs are 100% online. She became the founding member and first president of the World Campus Psychology Club, leading the development of Penn State's first online student organization and the first fully online psychology club for undergraduate students. Under her leadership, the community grew to more than 100 registered members within its first year, representing approximately 25% of students in the new degree program. The organization was designed to create opportunities for connection, peer support, leadership development, and engagement among students united by shared interested but separated by geography. Her commitment to student engagement led to multiple conference presentations, including sessions at the Hendrick Best Practices for Adult Learners Conference on enhancing the experience of adult online learners and developing programs that support online student success. 

Dr. Mynar-Kowalchuk holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University and a master's degree in Adult Education with a certificate in Distance Education and a bachelor's degree in psychology from The Pennsylvania State University. Her academic background and professional experience provide a unique perspective on how leadership, learning, and human behavior influence community participation and organizational success.

Today, through Social Success Stories, she helps leaders build intentional communities that strengthen relationships, increase engagement, and create lasting value for members as well as organization stakeholders. Whether serving businesses seeking stronger customer loyalty; higher education institutions focused on student engagement and belonging; or nonprofit organizations looking to deepen supporter relationships, Dr. Mynar-Kowalchuk helps organizations create communities where people don't participate—they belong.