DBU Welcomes Dr. Debbye Garner, Program Director of Master of Education in School Counseling and Master of Education in Teaching

"What excites me the most each day is preparing students to be a light wherever they serve, demonstrating how the Bible can be their roadmap for whatever challenges they might face in the classroom or the world."

Dr. Debbye Garner was born and raised in Oak Cliff, Texas. As a young girl, Dr. Garner attended a local church where her mother and grandmother were charter members. When she was nine, Debbye accepted Christ as her Savior and dedicated herself to following the Lord. However, her relationship with Him deepened later in her life following a near-death experience in July 2006. "During that challenging time, my faith and reliance on Christ grew immensely. Initially, I felt I had lost everything, but I soon realized I had gained much more." Debbye renewed her relationship with the Lord and learned to see Him as a father and a friend.

After graduating high school, Debbye attended Texas Woman's University to pursue a nursing degree and a career in the medical field. As Debbye entered her senior year, she decided to change her major to Public Health. During her four years at TWU, she was actively involved in the gospel choir and was a member of the honor society for health professionals, Etta Sigma Gamma.

Upon graduating from TWU in 1993, Debbye began her graduate studies at Dallas Baptist University. Unsure of her specific direction, she pursued a degree in Liberal Arts. After completing her M.L.A., she continued to study at DBU to pursue another master's degree in School Counseling under the tutelage of Dr. Bond. "Strong mentorships and connections transformed me into a career student at DBU, where I also earned certifications in leadership, school counseling, and mediation." Debbye's proudest moment at DBU was completing her doctoral studies and earning an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.

Throughout her professional career, Dr. Garner served in various roles in the public school system. She began as a high school special education teacher, where she discovered her passion for counseling. She transitioned into a counseling role before becoming a lead counselor at the middle school level. Dr. Garner also held the roles of assistant principal, director of parent engagement, and executive director of secondary curriculum.

Last year, the Lord called Dr. Garner to a full-time position at Dallas Baptist University, where she oversees the Master of Education in School Counseling and the Master of Education in Teaching DBU/Shelton partnership. She teaches courses in school counseling and defense of degrees for both programs. "It is an honor to serve at Dallas Baptist University, a place that helped shape my worldview. I am blessed to work at an institution that honors God and proudly shares the Gospel."