York College Mourns the Loss of Professor Emerita Debra Swoboda

With deep sadness, the Department of Behavioral Sciences announces that our colleague, Debra Swoboda, professor emerita, passed away on January 9 after a brief illness.

Deb joined the York faculty in 2003. From the start, Deb was an active participant in campus life and took on leadership roles on a number of committees and campus initiatives, including the Americans with Disabilities Act Committee, Writing Across the Curriculum, General Education, and Assessment. She led the development of the Center for Teaching and Learning and served as director for seven years. Deb was on the Steering Committee for Middle States. She served as department chair from 2018 until her retirement last year.

Deb’s research focused on two passionate interests: disability studies and the scholarship of teaching and learning. She published numerous articles and book chapters in both these areas. She was a dedicated teacher, devoted to promoting high academic standards and student success. She was a generous colleague, sharing her extensive knowledge and expertise on the latest developments in the field of pedagogy.

In her “spare time,” Deb was an avid gardener and a fabulous cook. We looked forward to her delicious contributions to the annual holiday potluck. She and husband, Steve Graham, were world travelers, having visited five continents. Most importantly, she was a supportive friend, readily stepping in to help her colleagues.

We will miss her wry sense of humor, her generosity, her hand-rolled sushi, and her dedication to students and colleagues.

In addition to her husband, Steve Graham, Deb is survived by her mother, Joann Swoboda, and her sisters Diane, Lisa, and Tonya. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, April 26, with more details to follow. Condolences may be sent to Steve Graham, 44 Utterby Road, Malverne, NY 11565.