Deborah McDonald, an accomplished criminal justice professional, is a graduate of USF with a B.A. in Communication and an M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration.

For the past 34 years, she has worked for the State of Florida in a variety of assignments and is currently the Regional Training Coordinator for the Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In addition to this role, she handled media relations for the region. Ms. McDonald joined FDLE in 1988 after having worked as a Duty Officer in the Communications Center with the Florida Marine Patrol. She worked full time while earning her degrees.

Ms. McDonald is an adjunct professor for Hillsborough Community College and for the Center for Public Safety Innovation at St. Petersburg College. She also mentors young women from Cleveland Elementary School, where the focus is on academics to help build a strong foundation for testing and middle school.

Her community service extends to Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay, where she is a board member, and the Middle District of Florida Civil Rights Working Group. The group is noted for work projects supported by the Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services.