Devorah Rose: Balancing Editorial Excellence in 'Social Life' with Deep-Rooted Charity Work in Houston
Each summer, Social Life magazine lands in the Hamptons like an elegant breeze, its pages filled with the beauty, style, and high-energy events that define the season. But under the sheen of glamour and couture lies an editor-in-chief with a deeper purpose: Devorah Rose, whose personal passions and philanthropic commitments stand at the heart of her work.
The Emotional Core of a Glossy
“As an editor, my goal isn’t just to highlight luxury,” Rose explains from her light-filled office, a short walk from the Atlantic. “It’s to capture the complexities that make people real — their aspirations, their setbacks, the unexpected moments. At Social Life we’re not just curating aspirational living — we’re capturing the full spirit of the Hamptons. My hope is that readers come away with more than beautiful imagery; I want them to feel something resonant and real.”
That philosophy drives the magazine’s standout July cover, featuring White Lotus and Anne Rice series actress Alexandra Daddario, in an interview with Rose that reads like a guided excavation of her inner life. While Daddario’s reflections on her own evolution — “I manifested a home, a family…” — bring raw vulnerability, it’s Rose’s masterful questioning that helps uncover her subject’s most resonant truths.
“I’m not interested in prefab inspiration,” Rose says. “I look for the unplanned, the contradictions, the chinks in the armor. That’s where authenticity lives.”
She points to a favorite quote from the interview: “Confidence for me would smell like rain — quiet, calm, and earned.”
“When she said that,” Rose recalls, “I felt it — like she wasn’t just talking about image, but about how confidence grows from experience.”
More Than Editorial: A Heart in Houston
Outside the editorial hustle, Rose’s commitment to charity work is equally profound — anchored most notably in her involvement with the Children’s Museum of Houston.
“Summer is such a joyful sprint — with the magazine in full swing, nonstop events, and summer camp logistics, there’s barely a moment to pause,” says Rose. “In the fall, I shift into a different rhythm. Houston gives me the space to be more focused, especially on education and giving back in a meaningful way.” She sits on the board of the Children’s Museum of Houston and is an active member of its Education Committee, where she’s helping reimagine one of the country’s most beloved museums for the next generation. “It’s been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever been part of,” she says. “We’re creating a space that sparks curiosity and wonder — and making sure every child feels it belongs to them.”
At a recent board meeting led by CEO Rayanne Darensbourg, Rose recounts how the emotional investment in the museum’s future moved the whole board.
“There’s something extraordinary about our board meetings. Rayanne brings a kind of vision and conviction that’s rare — and deeply moving. When she speaks, it’s with a clarity that comes from living the mission every day. Her belief in the museum’s work fills the room and elevates the conversation. It reminds us all why we’re here: to show up with purpose, to take on meaningful challenges, and to build something that truly matters. She makes you want to rise to the occasion.”
Rose’s compassion is matched by her action. This past year, she served as auction chair for the CMH gala and helped break the record for funds raised during the auction portion of the evening. But she refuses to take credit. “It’s a team effort,” she says. “I co-chaired the auction with Elizabeth McIngvale, whose dedication to philanthropy and willingness to roll up her sleeves inspires me. We worked hand in hand with Dora Lipper and Tracy Golden — truly the engine at CMH. And we had the most incredible chairs: Alison and Ivan Chavez, alongside Whitney and Ryan Burns. Alison and Ivan actually donated the most popular auction item, and so many people wanted it that the travel package sold not just twice, but three times. That’s what made the auction. It was real teamwork. I’m so grateful for the people around me. They inspire me.”
Now, Devorah is focused on weaving editorial storytelling into the museum’s campus planning. In an education meeting led by Cheryl McCallum, she points to Kidtropolis — a space inside the museum that mirrors every aspect of a town, from the bank to the vet’s office. “There were moments when I was a kid that I felt really lost, and a museum like this could have helped me find my place in the world,” she pauses, and the storyteller comes out. “CMH is a place where every child belongs — and becomes.”
Philanthropy is not a new chapter in Rose’s life. Before Houston, she and her husband supported the Kaufman Music Center in New York City— an institution at the heart of Lincoln Center that provides music education and scholarships to talented children while also serving the broader community. The children of celebrated violinist Joshua Bell have attended, and special guest teachers have included luminaries like Desmond Child.
Devorah and David Krieger’s dedication to the center was celebrated with a gala in their honor, where they received the Distinguished Service Award. The award was presented by their friend, musician Alexa Ray Joel, daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley.
“That evening,” Rose recalls, “felt less like a gala and more like a shared affirmation of purpose. The Kaufman Music Center is a place that changes lives and inspires the musical artists of tomorrow. Being involved with the center has been one of the biggest honors of my life.”
From Polo Fields to Classrooms
Rose blends her worlds effortlessly. In summer, she partners with Justin Mitchell to help bring Social Life’s signature activation, Polo Hamptons, to life — an event she describes as “a symphony of details orchestrated by Justin Mitchell,” from field-side elegance to thoughtfully curated guest experiences. “Working with Justin has been incredible,” she says. “Watching Polo grow year after year — and seeing the sheer amount of work and precision behind the scenes — is truly impressive. It’s become a hallmark of the season, something that brings the Hamptons community together.”
Come September, Rose swaps heels for sneakers and steps into full ‘mom mode’ — serving as class mom, yearbook editor, occasional school photographer, and this past year, co-chair of her son’s school fundraiser.
“I love Texas. I’ve never met more down-to-earth people,” she says with a smile. “Family comes first here, and there’s a sense of love and support wherever you go. I feel incredibly fortunate to have both worlds — and I truly love them equally.”
It’s that equilibrium — between the public and private, column inches and community — that informs both her editorial vision and her philanthropic impact.
The Anatomy of a Five-Year Plan
Rose is not one for rigid life maps. Instead, she emphasizes presence, a philosophy that evolves from both her editorial career and charitable mindset.
“I stopped stressing about outcome,” she says. “I focus on being fully present where I am — whether I’m editing a cover story or helping support the museum’s vision in whatever way I can. When you ground yourself in the now, things tend to unfold in ways you couldn’t predict.”"
Grounded in Home
For Rose, the Hamptons are not just a seasonal playground — they’re part of her identity. “I visit the same secret spot in the marsh I did when I was eighteen,” she says wistfully. “I still feel anchored by that simplicity.” It’s this grounding that she channels into her work, whether interviewing Hollywood talent, guiding philanthropic programming, or mentoring her son on the value of generosity.
“Stories are about transformation,” she says. “Not about polish and perfection, but about being knocked down — and then choosing who you want to become.” That thread — of vulnerability, of recovery, of discovery — runs through both her storytelling in Social Life and her dedication to causes that shape young lives, devoid of red carpets, but full of real impact.
In every page she edits and every committee meeting she chairs, Rose proves one thing: that compassion and elegance, purpose and polish, can coexist — if you aren’t afraid to tell the stories that live just beneath the surface.