Debra has a passion for philanthropy and social entrepreneurship in addition to for profit ventures. In 2006 Debra traveled with a team of her students, to Cambodia as part of a business startup team to launch a Social Entrepreneurship venture, Khmer Krafts. Khmer Krafts taught village girls to sew and then employed them at a fair wage making handbags, purses and other sewn items. Khmer Krafts met with success as the business was developed and profitable for 7 years, ending when the social need to provide jobs no longer existed. In that time the business impacted over 400 women, giving them the means to provide for their families. The project also propelled the students to a 1st runner up win at Nationals for High School Business clubs.
For several years Debra ran her own consulting firm, working with clients in the areas of development, fundraising, marketing, public relations and business formation before being tapped by the WSU College of Business's Center for Entrepreneurial Studies to lead an initiative to develop student led, hands-on business projects. Debra also put together the capstone New Business Venture course to prepare business, science and engineering students for the WSU Business plan competition where over $100,000 is awarded yearly to winning teams.
Debra received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Business Administration from Walla Walla University and went on to receive an MBA from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID. Debra's teaching philosophy combines practical, hand-on experience with learning through education and research, integrating such experiences in her classes.
Debra is married to Dave McCarver, celebrating over 26 years married, and is the proud mom of 13 and 11 year old daughters, Reagan, and Roslyn.. The McCarvers enjoy their girls, family, friends, music, white water rafting and international travel. They currently live in Nampa, Idaho.