During her time in the Army from 2003 to 2011, Debbie often found herself in a space she describes as “in-between.” At work, she was more left-leaning than many were comfortable with — her Barack Obama dress-up magnet sometimes surprising those around her. In her social circles, returning home in uniform startled others. It was an interesting, puzzling, and at times frustrating place to occupy. During many notable events throughout her service, she found herself trying to bridge perspectives — challenging the perceived reality of the “other side.”

Living in that tension cultivated a deep curiosity. Rather than retreating, she developed a desire to see beyond surface identities and find common ground across differences. Being “in-between” also meant that people were often surprised by the many identities she holds — and she has come to appreciate the complexity of that multiplicity.

When she first enlisted, she was a traditional National Guard soldier while also attending Pacific University as an undergraduate. She structured her Army occupation around being able to complete training quickly and return for fall semester. However, a series of events extended her stay at Fort Lee, Virginia indefinitely. With limited communication access, she attempted to coordinate with her parents and Pacific. Dean of Students Eva Krebs intervened, working with her advisor and instructors to ensure she remained enrolled, retained financial aid, and did not lose a semester. Eventually, she returned to Oregon and salvaged the term.

A year later, during the first Friday of her senior year, her National Guard unit called: she was deploying to Louisiana in response to Hurricane Katrina. Two days later, she reported to the armory with bags packed for an indefinite deployment. She spent her 21st birthday on lockdown in an armory, with a 40 oz bottle of water bottled by Budweiser. After a month in Louisiana assisting fellow citizens during crisis, she returned to campus once again facing academic uncertainty. Once again, Pacific showed up.

The care and coordination required to keep her on track to graduate was never lost on her. She knows that at another institution, her story may have ended differently. That experience — being supported while serving — shaped her decision to pursue a Master’s degree in Student Affairs and laid the foundation for her professional identity in higher education.

Service, for Debbie, is not abstract. She describes it as pitching in — working toward the solution and greater good, even if your piece of the puzzle feels small. She believes in striving for big change while engaging meaningfully where you can make a difference now.

Her military experience also taught her self-advocacy. Well-intentioned people may be overwhelmed; sometimes you must nudge things forward yourself. Advocate for what you want. Assume best intentions, but do not assume progress will happen without your voice.

When asked why she enlisted, she jokes, “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Beneath the humor lies a deeper truth — she was searching for belonging, for something larger than herself. She found it. When asked whether she would do it again, the answer is complicated. The military taught her about leadership, teamwork, commitment, and staying true to herself. It also brought challenges she is not always certain were worth it. Yet she remains proud — proud to be a veteran, and proud when that identity challenges someone’s idea of what a veteran “should” be.

Quote:
 "Service to me means pitching in, working towards the solution and greater good, no matter how small a piece of the puzzle you may be."