DEBORAH FULLER GREBENIK

Just celebrated my 45th wedding anniversary to Mike who I met in Fort Worth.
After high school I went to Kansas State for my bachelor's degree then to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and received a Master's degree in Religious Education. I then got married, had 3 kids and stayed at home and loved every minute of that. I still love to bake chocolate chip cookies!
Eventually I went to the University of Denver and got a Master's of Social Work and then became licensed. I worked full-time during this educational endeavor--in the field of social work (obviously, never made much money!) In 2000 I received a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in Denver. I worked part-time teaching in the graduate school of social work at Newman University in Colorado Springs where I've lived since 1983 until 2021. I also was a therapist working with adoptive families and people who've experienced significant trauma in their lives. I lead women's retreats for women who are in transition and clarifying their life visions. I do a lot of teaching and training about trauma, emotional intelligence, and leadership. I love to hike (Colorado is a perfect place to do this), read, work out, write, and teach. Most of all, I love being "Gigi" as my grandkids call me.

I published two books: Just Show Up and Crossing the Deep Waters of Trauma, Trials and Loss--both are available on Amazon.

My favorite memories are cutting out of chemistry class to go get cinnamon rolls (obviously I am a 'foodie'), playing hearts during algebra, hanging out with my best buddies--Pam Brown and others from Trailridge (too many to name). I also loved going out to eat with the girls on Friday nights when we didn't have dates. I also remember going to swim meets and we would all get pushed in the pool at the end of the meet. I loved seeing 'for sale' signs in the front yard of SMNW (not that I know who did that!). I also loved doing Chinese fire drills, going to football and basketball games and going ice-skating and sledding during the winter. I enjoyed the good friendships I made.