She received her doctorate in Gerontology and Public Policy from the University of Southern California. She is board certified as a gerontological nurse and as a nurse educator. Debra is an elected fellow of the Gerontological Society of America as well as the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE). She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau (nursing honor society) and former President of Sigma Phi Omega (SPO), the gerontological honor society.