Deborah graduated from Greenville Technical College in South Carolina in 1995 with an Associate in Health Science with a Major in Dental Hygiene. Since graduation, she has completed education and exam requirements for local anesthesia and nitrous oxide administration. Deborah is excited to serve a second term as ODHA Speaker of the House and ADHA Delegate this year.

Since moving to Ohio, Deborah has served ODHA over the past 22 years in many roles. Deborah has served as President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Vice President, Trustee, Administrative Planning Council Chair, Annual Session Council Chair, Policy and Bylaws Council Chair, ADHA Alternate Delegate, ADHA Delegate, and ADHA Delegate Chair. She has also served on the Legislative Committee, Financial Review Committee, Continuing Education Council, Annual Session Council, and O-HY-PAC.

Deborah is a member of the Columbus Component and has served on a component level as Trustee, President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, ODHA Delegate, and on several committees.

On a national level, Deborah has served as ADHA Delegate and ADHA Alternate Delegate. She attended ADHA Lobby Day in Washington, DC, in 2009. In 2011, Deborah was selected and attended ADHA’s Unleashing your Potential in Chicago. In 2018, she volunteered at ADHA Annual Conference when it was here in Columbus. She helped with Community Service Day, Plenary Sessions, and the Hospitality Booth.

Deborah has received several awards for her service with ODHA. She has received the ODHA President’s Award from Clifford Jones (2005), a President’s Citation from Shannon Sweeney (2020), the Margie A. Pearce Aspiring Professional Award (2010), the ODHA Outstanding Effort Award (2013, 2019 as a member of Total Development Weekend Council, 2023 as a member of the Policy and Bylaws Council) , the ODHA  Outstanding Service Award (2018), the Sandra Winchell Exemplary Service Award (2019) and the Patricia V Griffiths Memorial Award (2021). Deborah is also a senior member of the Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Association Academy of Dental Hygiene Studies.

Deborah recently passed the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP) Membership Examination. She plans to continue studying parliamentary procedure and take the next step toward becoming a Registered Parliamentarian (RP).

Deborah practiced dental hygiene in Virginia and Tennessee prior to moving to Ohio in 2000. She resides in Dublin and works full-time in a periodontal practice in Worthington. Deborah also is a Dental Hygiene Educator for BioGaia at exhibit halls and CE courses. In Deborah’s free time, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her son Hunter and her dog Gracey (yes, spelled like the instrument).