Career services director Debnam retires after 30-plus years
Media School colleagues and students celebrated the retirement of journalism career services director Marcia Debnam with festivities Thursday in Ernie Pyle Hall.
Guests ranging from students she has counseled to long-time journalism faculty and staff to her more recent colleagues at Career Services gathered on Debnam’s last day of a 30-plus year career.
“My favorite part of my job has been the students,” Debnam said. “I love having the opportunity to interact with them, to help or encourage them in any way at all.”
Debnam began working at IU soon after she earned her master’s degree in journalism in 1984 and became the School of Journalism’s director of career services in 1990.
“Marcia was here when I got here 20 years ago,” said Media School Associate Dean Betsi Grabe. “She is a thread of continuity that stretches across time. Whenever someone with such a longitudinal memory leaves an institution, it is a great loss.”
At the event, faculty, staff and students all spoke on the impact that Debnam had in their lives. The speakers included the director of career services for the College of Arts and Sciences Joe Lovejoy, Media School professor Radhika Parameswaran, and 2016 Media School graduates Daion Morton and Leah Johnson. Each one thanked Debnam for the ways she had affected their lives, touching on her compassion, kindness and sense of humor.
“Marcia has been more than an academic advisor for me,” Johnson said in her speech. “She has been my mother, my counselor and my biggest advocate.”
During her time as the director of journalism’s career services, Debnam worked closely with students. She advised them on internship and job opportunities, helped craft resumes and shared suggestions about potential careers.
“I would always see students come running in looking for Marcia,” said Marilyn Behrman, the undergraduate administrative services coordinator for The Media School. “They would ask for help with resumes and applications. It was never quite a crisis situation, but they would think it was until they talked to her.”
Debnam’s work was not limited to career advising. Over the years, she also gave tours to incoming freshman and, for a time, edited the alumni newsletter, among other activities.
“Marcia is so versatile and compassionate,” said academic advisor Jeanne Myers. “She’s been an incredible resource to undergraduate students and the school.”
Media School Director of Experiential Learning Audrie Osterman has known Debnam both as an advisor and a co-worker; in both roles, Osterman says, Debnam has taught her important lessons.
“She has taught me a lot about professionalism,” Osterman said. “Marcia has decades of institutional knowledge, and I’ve learned a lot from that. It’s also really helpful to see how she is with the students, because they really look up to her.”
The Ernie Pyle Lounge was crowded, and attendees had anecdotes or kind words for Debnam.
“She’s so generous and attentive, and very sweet,” said Rachel Landis, a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Career Services team. “More than anything, Marcia is very humble.”
“The best thing about Marcia is her passion for her job and the joy it brings her to interact with the students,” said David Ellis, the director of administration and strategic initiatives for The Media School.
Debnam said she is not leaving The Media School behind yet and hopes to stay involved even during her retirement. She said she considers herself blessed to have worked in her position and is thankful for the opportunities it provided her.
“There’s not one thing I can look at and say, ‘Wow, that was the best thing I ever did!’” Debnam said. “It’s more general than that. I’m proud I had the opportunity to see students grow and become professionals while they were at IU, and I’ve loved reconnecting with them as alumni.”