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Deborah Smith

Assistant Director

Deborah Smith, Services for Students with Disabilities

Deborah Smith portrait

Deborah Smith, MS, serves as an Assistant Director in the Services for Students with Disabilities office. Her primary responsibilities focus on assisting students with disabilities through an interactive process, to understand their needs in the campus learning and living environments, review their disability documentation, develop appropriate accommodations, and support them as they develop self-understanding and self-advocacy skills.  In addition, Deborah consults with faculty, and collaborates across campus departments, to cultivate and support the inclusion and full participation of all members of the campus community, consistent with the Virginia Tech Principles of Community.  

Deborah holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Radford University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Systems Economics and Management from Michigan State University. Deborah served as a counselor in the Radford University Counseling Center before joining the Roanoke Valley community mental health system. After becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia, she joined a private practice in Roanoke, where she developed extensive experience working in a variety of capacities including testing and evaluation, direct clinical services, and consulting with local human service agencies before joining Virginia Tech.  Deborah is a professional member of the Association on Higher Education and Disability, and its Virginia affiliate.