Dr. Deb Renshaw, Senior Undergraduate Academic Advisor in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering
Deb has a varied background both educationally and professionally. After earning a doctorate, Deb taught Technical Writing and Computer Applications at Western Michigan and Grambling State Universities. Deb returned to education as a student to earn a second Master鈥檚 degree in Counseling Psychology and opened a private Psychotherapy and Mediation practice in Washington state. After closing the practice in 2002, Deb was employed as a Senior Staff Counselor at the University of Vermont (UVM) working with both undergraduate and graduate students. While at UVM, Deb graduated from the Vermont State Fire Academy and joined the Essex Junction Fire Department as a Firefighter/First Responder. Deb left counseling and Vermont to try the public sector as a Communication Director in Georgia, but higher education started calling again. Deb joined CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 CEAS Academic Advising Team in 2012.
What do you most like to do to unwind?
I鈥檓 the drummer for Old鈥檚 Cool Rock (OCR), a rock 鈥榥 roll / Motown band and for Category 5, a jazz quartet. OCR plays about 40 gigs a year and Cat 5 is new. Both bands practiced weekly, prior to the Covid situation. I鈥檓 really looking forward to getting back to gigging and practicing. And, OCR plays at the ChBE Department graduation ceremony every year. I really missed playing for the graduates this year!!
What鈥檚 something most people don鈥檛 know about you?
When I turned 45, I decided to start trying something I鈥檇 never done before for every birthday. That year I participated in a stand-up comedy open mic night in Atlanta. At the time, I didn鈥檛 realize it was a competition. There were 21 comics and much to my surprise, I won! The prize was $50 and an opening spot for a pro show the following week. I did stand-up for a few years after that. It was really fun!
What鈥檚 the best advice you鈥檝e ever been given?
There are no small parts. I was in community theatre for a number of years and that鈥檚 a saying in theatre. I apply that to every area of my life. I try to do my best with most everything, as someone is depending upon it. Actually, one other best advice I was given was in 7th grade by Miss Hibbert, my gym teacher. She taught us all to treat everyone with respect, as we鈥檙e all trying to do our best. She was a great teacher and coach!
What has been your favorite work or personal project so far?
I have two favorite personal projects. Graduating from the Vermont Fire Academy and acting with an ensemble in a full-length movie. I was a firefighter in VT and that was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! The movie was about a gang of biker chicks - it took 14 days to film in the mountains of VT. That was a blast!
My coworkers can always count on me to... be there and pitch in. I love my life here at CU 麻豆影院 and the team I work with is amazing! I wouldn鈥檛 change a thing about my spot in life right now, except being back on campus!
