With her two rescue dogs T-Mac and Lady Gilligan, Deborrah Hebert rolled into Commerce, filling the shoes of assistant vice president and dean of student affairs, with high hopes for Texas A&M University-Commerce this year.
Hebert’s first day at A&M-C was June 18. Prior to selecting Hebert, a university search committee conducted a four-month ling search, which included phone interviews and brought several candidates to the campus for further interviewing. The group finally selected her in early April.
“I think the people are the University’s best attribute. It’s a beautiful campus; it’s clean, and there’s a lot of attention paid to the landscaping; but the people are what really makes it,” Hebert said.
Graduating from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in student affairs, Hebert obtained her doctorates in counseling and human development at the University of Georgia before serving for nine years as the dean of students at Angelo State University, in San Angelo.
Hebert plans to work with the staff and students at A&M-C, in order for them to grow and to get everyone more involved with student organizations.
“I’d like to really work with the staff, faculty and students to make it a good student involvement co-curricular experience for all of our students and provide them with some good opportunities to learn life skills,” Hebert said.
Last spring, Hebert received the Diamond Honoree award from the American College Personnel Association. Each year, individuals who have achieved success throughout their careers in the profession are nominated for the award. If selected, funds are raised in the winner’s name for the Educational Leadership Foundation to support research in student affairs.
Originally from central Louisiana, Hebert first started work at Tusculum College, a private college in Tennessee and continued on to the University of Denver and Southeastern Louisiana.
“Wherever I’ve been able to go, I have worked with students, and I think I have a good rapport and am real pleased that some of that carries on. I’m still in touch with former student body presidents and RAs,” Hebert said.
Hebert currently resides in Commerce in order to be more available to students and staff when she is needed and attend events at the University throughout the year.
“I’m very happy to be here and I’m looking forward to working with everybody,” Hebert said.