Debbie Whalley is the Managing Director of Academic Systems and Technology in the Office of the Provost and the Senior Instructional Technologist and Assessment Manager in the Center for Academic Excellence (the college’s center for teaching and learning) at Fairfield University. She has been a member of Fairfield’s staff since 2002, serving in a wide range of roles across Information Technology Services and Academic Affairs. Her career has included leadership in Academic Support, IT Support Services, Academic Computing, and, more recently, faculty development and academic administration.
During her time in Academic Computing, Debbie led teams that supported faculty in adopting and integrating innovative technologies for teaching and research. She played key roles in major initiatives such as implementing Zoom for instruction and office hours (before COVID) and administering Zoom during COVID, launching the iPad for Faculty program, expanding simplified AV environments with AppleTV-enabled projection in classrooms, and introducing Quip to enhance collaborative writing and group work.
In her current positions in the Provost’s Office and the Center for Academic Excellence, Debbie collaborates with departments and schools to develop programmatic assessment plans for accreditation, has designed and manages Fairfield’s online Rank and Tenure system, and partners with faculty to integrate educational technologies and generative AI into pedagogically grounded practice. She also works with the Academic Spaces Committee on classroom technology and furniture design and collaborates closely with the Registrar’s Office on course scheduling. Debbie is an active regional presenter and long-time NERCOMP volunteer, serving on the Professional Development, Community Relations, and Annual Conference Program Committees.
In her spare time, Debbie enjoys reading, cooking, and playing card and board games.