Debra Swihart has been on the Faculty of Jackson College since 1985. Earning a BS in both Psychology and Sociology from Central Michigan University, she went on to Eastern Michigan University and Michigan State University earning her MA. Debra has continued her education with coursework from Michigan State and Marygrove College. From 1986 to 1994 Debra served as a Counselor for the Jackson College Prison Program. At that time, Jackson College not only was the first college in the United States to offer Higher Education for incarcerated students, but they were also the largest program in the country. Returning to the main campus, she resumed teaching sociology and criminology courses. Debra is one of the founding members of the Faculty Professional Development Committee and also is the Lead Faculty member for Sociology.

On a personal note, Debra has been married for 40 years and has 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. She is proud to note that all of her children attended Jackson College before transferring to major universities.