Years of Service - Social Justice
by Lauren McLain

Debbie Garcia started her tenure at UTA in 1992 as a student-athlete and has never left. She was recruited to be on the Track team and was on course for pre-Law. Debbie was passionate about Political Science and History, British history to be exact. After graduation, Debbie worked for UTA fulltime as the Academic Advisor/Life Skills Coordinator and was responsible for academic advising and programs that engaged student-athletes with campus. Fast forward 20+ years and in her current role as Deputy Athletics Director, she advocates for student-athletes just like she has from day one. She taps into her student-athlete experience to help students and families navigate the balance of collegiate sports and higher education while dreaming about professional sports. Debbie helps them understand the value of their college education, particularly after the glory days fade.

How did Debbie go from pre-Law to being a student-athlete advocate? Well, a retired History professor and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Elisabeth Cawthon played a pivotal part. Not only was Professor Cawthon a mentor to Debbie during college but also in life. Debbie remembers fondly how Professor Cawthon would dress in period costume as role playing for her lectures. She wanted to make sure that history is never boring. How many of us wish that we had a professor make old subject matters more interesting and memorable?

It is no surprise to hear who Debbie would like to have lunch with. It would be with former Governor Ann Richards and Cesar Chavez, both are advocates in their own rights. Ann Richards was one of only two female governors for the state of Texas. Her famous line was “After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.” As for Cesar Chavez, Debbie admired his civil rights activism for farm laborers which started in California and spread nationwide. Chavez leveraged for better working conditions through nonviolent tactics such as strikes, boycotts and fasts. What Debbie learned is that every person is valuable,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 and their unique contributions should be recognized.  With such social activism idols, Debbie works to ensure that all student-athletes and their contributions are supported.  A recent victory for a very successful program that does not usually get as much attention as other sports was the addition of a scoreboard at the UTA Tennis Center.  The basketball and volleyball teams are housed in the beautiful College Park Center, the track and golf teams have facilities at the stadium and the baseball and softball fields and clubhouses are among the best mid-major spaces in the country.  The tennis team was due a technology upgrade and an improvement reflective of their success. 

Debbie has lived in two places her whole life – El Paso was where she grew up and Arlington where she studied and lives with her husband, Mike, and two boys. As a matter of fact, Mike also works at UTA, so Debbie’s world is this university. She’s fortunate to be able to raise her sons around higher education and her beloved Maverick student-athletes.  Debbie’s retirement plan is to be a party planner and make mums. You know, those humongous homecoming mums that highlight high school football season. And now they’re also worn in middle schools. So, there are plenty of mums to make. I was very surprised to hear about the mums because that is also my retirement plan! Some things that Debbie would say to her younger self are to breathe and exhale; be in the moment; and give yourself more credit. This goes back to her belief that everyone is indeed valuable, including yourself!