Deborah Jones Merritt is the Director of the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy at The Ohio State University, as well as the John Deaver Drinko/Baker & Hostetler Chair in Law and an adjunct Professor of Sociology. Professor Merritt graduated from Harvard College summa cum laude in 1977 and Columbia Law School in 1980. While at Columbia, she was Managing Editor of the Columbia Law Review, earned the distinction of James Kent Scholar, and won the Robert Noxon Toppan Prize.

After graduation, Professor Merritt clerked for Judge (now Justice) Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court of the United States. Professor Merritt joined the law faculty at the University of Illinois in 1985 and moved to Ohio State in 1995. She has published widely on issues of federalism, equality, affirmative action, health and technology, legal education, tort reform, and law and social science. Much of her work has focused on public policy issues, and she has made numerous presentations to judges, legislators, and other policymakers. Professor Merritt has also co-taught courses in Europe with both Justice Ginsburg and Justice O'Connor. She was appointed Interim Director of the John Glenn Institute on July 1, 2000, and became Director on November 4, 2000.