- Deborah DeStefano - Gallaudet University

Office Location
College Hall 216

Phone Numbers
Video Phone: 202-250-2313
Voice Phone: 202-651-5609
FAX: 202-651-5508

Email Address
Deborah.DeStefano@gallaudet.edu

Deborah DeStefano

Special Assistant to the President, Board Liaison

M.A., School Counseling, Gallaudet University, 1979
B.A., Psychology, Gallaudet University, 1977

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Deborah DeStefano has a long history with Gallaudet University beginning with her undergraduate years, pursuing a degree in Psychology, and on through the completion of her master’s degree in School Counseling. Ms. DeStefano worked as a Assistant Dean of Student Life, Career Development Teacher, and Principal at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf before becoming the Director of Admissions at the University in 1993.

In 2002, Ms. DeStefano was promoted to Executive Director of Enrollment Services where she had oversight over Undergraduate Admissions, Registrar’s Office, Financial Aid and recruitment marketing and publications. In 2007, Ms. DeStefano was tapped to lead the program support unit of the newly formed College of Professional Studies and Outreach Programs. She lead the public relations, marketing and publications efforts of CPSO .

In 2008 she was asked to join the President’s Office as the liaison to the Board of Trustees. In this role she is responsible for planning and coordinating Board of Trustees meetings and retreats and facilitating communications among the Board and between the Board and the University. Ms. DeStefano was also responsible for the successful transition from the Davila administration to the Hurwitz administration which included two significant celebrations—a gala in honor of President Davila and the Inaugural Ceremony for President Hurwitz.

Ms. DeStefano is the mother of two Gallaudet alumni, Stephen Farias, '05, a teacher at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont and David Farias, '07, a budget analyst for the Finance Office at Gallaudet University.

Favorite Quote:

Someone once asked me what I regarded as the three most important requirements for happiness. My answer was: "A feeling that you have been honest with yourself and those around you; a feeling that you have done the best you could both in your personal life and in your work; and the ability to love others."
—Eleanor Roosevelt