Faculty with administrative duties

Degrees
A.A., Volunteer State Community College
B.A., Cumberland University
M.A.E, Cumberland University
M.S.O, Cumberland University
Special Education coursework, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Phone: 615.547.1217
E-mail: dwhitaker@cumberland.edu

In March of 2002, Debbie came to Cumberland as the Program Coordinator for the Master of Arts in Education program. She is also a full-time faculty member in the School of Education & Public Service, teaching undergraduate courses. In addition to those duties, Debbie also coordinates the Summer Recertification Workshops for teachers needing to renew a teaching license

In her pre-Cumberland days, Debbie had a varied background of experiences from stay-at-home mom to Pre-K day school teacher, and from working with deaf individuals at the State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to working as a third-party health benefits administrator. Part-time work has included substitute teacher, freelance newspaper writer, volunteer ESL teacher and community theater assistant

A native of Old Hickory and a DuPont High School graduate, Debbie is past-president of the school's Alumni Association. She has been married to fellow DuPont graduate, John Whitaker III, for over forty years. They have been blessed with two daughters, one son, three granddaughters and two grandsons. 

Debbie is also a past president of the Tennessee Writer's Alliance, and chaired the 2009 and the 2010 Writer's Conferences. She has had several poems and songs published and one song recorded in 2003 ("Old Blind Dog" by bluegrass duet, Jim Hurst & Missy Raines, Pinecastle Records). Her goal is to publish a collection of short stories and a children's book.

Publications:  

Award in English, Cumberland University, 1993-94

Research Award in English, Cumberland University, 1992-93

Several poems published in Maypop magazine, 2009

"Old Blind Dog", song recorded in 2003, co-written with Claire Lynch

"Bound for the Promised Land", song published 1994, co-written with Claire Lynch

Poem published in Christian Woman magazine, 1994