A graduate of Santa Clara University, with a B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. in Education, Debbie is a retired elementary school educator and librarian. After retirement in 2000, she worked on program development for children and adults through the Ojai Valley Museum in Southern California. In 2008, she became involved with the Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program in Santa Clara County in Northern California, working with immigrant children and their families as they adjusted to American life. Traveling and reading are particular passions for Debbie, learning about people, cultures, histories and the needs of those in developing countries. She visited COV in 2014 and was so impressed with the organization and the work being done that she has stayed in contact ever since. In addition, she enjoys membership in Dining for Women and has volunteered with Mercy Beyond Borders in Haiti. She and her husband, Paul have raised two daughters and now have five grandchildren.