AS THE ELEVENTH PERSON TO BE NAMED DEAN OF THE COLLEGE SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1889, DEBBIE CRAIG, PHD, AT-R, joins a long line, nine to be exact, of women holding the title.* From Margaret Comstock Snell and Ava Milam Clark to Kinsey Green and Tammy Bray, the list is impressive, and each left their mark. Debbie hopes her own legacy will be to “right the ship.” Uniquely poised as the college’s first dean-slash-athletic-trainer, she has begun to tackle financial issues and improve efficiency using an approach that derives from her AT training: Diagnose a problem, break it down, and know your team and their skills. “People not only have different learning styles, but also different intelligences,” she says. “It’s important to listen so that you get to know someone and how their brain organizes ideas, and how they see and work through problems. Doing so helps me be a better leader and support those I'm leading. The more varied the talent is in your team, the better your team.” Like the women deans who came before her, and especially in the male-dominated field of athletic training, Debbie learned early on that confidence is key. “Because I am a woman, self-confidence is imperative to be successful,” she says. “If not, I'd get eaten alive. I've needed to be strong from the get-go, and that has served me well.” Throughout her career, she’s learned to appreciate the responsibility she has for others and the whole organization; thoroughly assess situations; be decisive and transparent; respect others and the culture; stay calm in difficult situations; create buy-in; be confident in the strength of her team; expect the unexpected; and most importantly, be kind. In Alaska, Debbie became known for asking for kindness during challenging times and recognizing that everyone's doing their best. NEW DEAN GETS A RUNNING START MEET DEAN DEBBIE CRAIG BY KATHRYN STROPPEL “Be kind during challenging times and recognize that everyone’s doing their best.” *Does not include interim deans. For a full list of college deans, visit beav.es/x37. 4 ▴ College of Health
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