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After having served the University of Mississippi faithfully for more than two decades, Debra J. Moore (MA 98, PhD 06) decided to retire at the end of 2017. Twenty-one years ago, she started at the university by teaching a couple of social work courses, and that successful experience led to full-time employment as an assistant professor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI accepted the full-time teaching position after teaching two semesters on campus,\u201d Moore said. \u201cI found that I really enjoyed the students. I found the Department of Social Work to be accepting of our students, and I wanted to be a part of a faculty that was making a difference in Mississippi.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moore graduated from Tupelo High School in 1975. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Mississippi State University in 1978 and her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1981.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore joining the Department of Social Work, I specifically worked as a clinical social worker,\u201d Moore said. \u201cI worked for Region III Mental Health (Lifecore) in Tupelo as a therapist, for SAFE (Shelter and Assistance in Family Emergencies) Inc. in Tupelo and as an outreach social worker for the Mississippi State Psychiatric Hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moore went on to serve as a clinical director for Professional Counseling Services and the Family Care Center in St. Robert, Missouri. Before moving to Missouri, she worked as a therapist with Aurora Mental Health, in Aurora, Colorado.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was hired as an assistant professor at the university in 1996,\u201d Moore said. \u201cI served as the field education director, was tenured and promoted to associate professor in 2003 and served as interim chair during the 2011-12 academic year, after which I returned to the field education director position.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moore\u2019s promotion to interim chair was a moment that stands out in the memory of Teresa Carithers, interim dean of the School of Applied Sciences.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was a very sudden, unexpected request that showed her willingness to rise to the challenge to support her colleagues at an important time,\u201d Carithers said. \u201cThe social work profession, like so many others in our school, is a very high-demand, service-focused profession. So I always express my greatest wishes for the best opportunities and well-deserved rest retirement can provide.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moore, who lives in Taylor, said she considers her three daughters to be her greatest achievement.<\/p>\n
\u201cTanya, my oldest, is a bookkeeper with the Louisiana SPCA, and Kiki and Jonalyn both work for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Las Vegas,\u201d she said. \u201cTo me, my daughters are simply amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moore also has six grandchildren and two great-grandsons. She enjoys reading, traveling, shopping, attending movies, cooking, as well as “caring for my fur babies and spoiling my grandchildren.”<\/p>\n
Professionally, Moore received the 2005 Thomas Crowe Outstanding Faculty Award.<\/p>\n
\u201cA former faculty member, Jo Ann O\u2019Quin, nominated me,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was such an honor. But I have to give credit to my B.S.W. students. Together, we raised over $10,000 to sponsor a Feed the Children truck for families residing in Lafayette, Panola, Yalobusha and Calhoun counties.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following her retirement, Moore said she plans to work with the Family Resource Center in Oxford, and, later on, she may explore adjunct teaching.<\/p>\n
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