Deb Arthur is originally from Connecticut, where she grew up ice skating on ponds in winter and swimming, reading and chasing fireflies in summer. She completed her undergraduate education at Trinity College in Hartford, earned her master’s degree in Black Studies at The Ohio State University, and her JD at the University of Connecticut School of Law. After law school, Deb moved west to work at the Juvenile Rights Project (now Youth, Rights and Justice), and continued to practice juvenile law and criminal defense in Portland for a decade. She then transferred into higher education at Portland State University, teaching interdisciplinary general education courses in the areas of criminal and juvenile justice. She is the founder of PSU’s Higher Education in Prison Program, which brings the only bachelor’s degree pathway to incarcerated women in the state. She has won numerous state, regional and national awards for this work, and, more importantly, she has been able to celebrate several graduates who started in her first class at Coffee Creek. Deb is passionate about helping students thrive academically and professionally. She is deeply committed to empowering others by providing the guidance, support, and opportunities they need to achieve their highest goals and aspirations.
Outside of work, Deb enjoys long walks with her husband and two dogs, being a cheerleader and pit crew member for her two young adult children, and challenging herself in the gym.