Deborah Powers

About Deborah Powers

I am a lifelong learner. I strive to be genuine and compassionate.I aspire to contribute positively to others, to build community, and to give back to my community sharing my strengths through relevant service.I seek opportunities to catalyze the empowerment of individuals through meaningful experience and mentorship- Deb Powers

Experience

1. Chair, Adventure Education Department

   Fort Lewis College

   Jul 2025 — Present · Durango, CO, US

   College-wide Service:* Co-coordinator Experiential and Community-engaged Learning (FLC) Achieved Institutional Funding for 20••••26* College Personnel Committee* Ad-hoc Advising Council* Career Ecosystem GroupAE Department Leadership Responsibilities:• Provide strategic leadership for department mission, vision, and PLOs•. Continuous quality improvement through annual assessment and academic program review • Strive to foster a positive and collaborative department environment.• Communicate effectively with faculty and staff to and from the administration (e.g, attend council of chairs, run department meetings, represent department on college committees). • Serve as a problem-solver and mediator for student, staff, and faculty complaints.• Monitor faculty workload in consultation with the assigned Associate Dean (e.g, annual teaching load, department committee work, college committee service, etc.).• Establish search committees and faculty job announcements with input from all department• Collaborate with search committees to interview and hire new faculty• Work with the Department and School of Education Personnel Committee (DPC) to evaluate facultyOrganizational Responsibilities• Create maps for graduation plans, four-year schedules, and semester course schedules.• Submit the department teaching schedules• Coordinate with Associate Dean on departmental scholarships, assessments, program reviews• Collaborate with Associate Dean to promote department events, marketing & program promotionFinancial Responsibilities• Manage department OCE budget• Manage and authorize department spending• Manage department Foundation accounts.• Approve travel authorizations and reconciliations.

Education

• California State University, Long Beach

  Master of Science, Outdoor Education and Recreation Administration

  2001 — 2004

• University of Vermont

  Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Studies

• Eckerd College

  Post baccalaureate study in Psychology and Counseling

• California State University, Long Beach

  Doctorate of Education, Educational Leadership

  2007 — 2010