Debra Heath-Thornton BS '81 is the executive dean of the Campalo College of Graduate and Professional Studies at Eastern University. In this role, she is responsible for the quality of the academic programs in the college and for managing academic policies, faculty affairs and personnel matters, as well as strategic planning for the college, curriculum development, enrollment management and budget management. 
 
Prior to serving as executive dean, Heath- Thornton was a full-time faculty member at several four-year institutions, becoming a tenured faculty member at two. She is committed to higher education and believes that it is within this realm that she is able to do the most good and effect positive change one student at a time. 
 
Heath-Thornton has created curriculum and criminal justice opportunities at every educational institution she has served, both at the secondary and higher education levels. She is particularly passionate about the courses she has created in victimology, community-based corrections and restorative justice.