As an educator, Deb received her BS from Syracuse University, having studied Speech Communication, Education, History and Acting. She also holds an English, Speech Communication, and Theater teaching degree for grades 6-12 and has served as a substitute teacher for middle and high school students.

As a college student, Deb spent a semester in London studying acting with the former head of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). While at Syracuse, Deb received honors including the Ray Irwin Forensics Award as Outstanding Performer and the Outstanding Student in Speech-Education.

In addition to being the mother of three sons, she was the Actor in Residence for Prime Stage Theatre Education program during the 2006-2007 season where she received excellent reviews for her performance as Edith Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank.

As an actress, Deb has played a variety of roles, including Ann Putnam in The Crucible, Aunt Abby in Arsenic and Old Lace, Miss Maudie in To Kill a Mockingbird, and Zelda Fitzgerald in The Crack-up.