Debra received her Master's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She worked as a Software Developer at mDimension Technology making use of her experience in several programming languages, database design and development, software engineering, and web application development. She began teaching computer science at Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia in 2009 and moved to VCU in August 2016. Debra has served on the advisory board for Lighthouse for Computer Science (LH4CS). The goal of the Lighthouse project is to improve computer science diversity through faculty professional development. In addition, she is a member of the Advisory Council for the Deep Run High School's Center for Information Technology in Glen Allen, Virginia, where she provides program support and assists in curriculum development for their technology-based preparatory program for future computer scientists.

Debra received her Master's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She worked as a Software Developer at mDimension Technology making use of her experience in several programming languages, database design and development, software engineering, and web application development. She began teaching computer science at Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia in 2009 and moved to VCU in August 2016. Debra has served on the advisory board for Lighthouse for Computer Science (LH4CS). The goal of the Lighthouse project is to improve computer science diversity through faculty professional development. In addition, she is a member of the Advisory Council for the Deep Run High School's Center for Information Technology in Glen Allen, Virginia, where she provides program support and assists in curriculum development for their technology-based preparatory program for future computer scientists.