Summer 2005 - School of Journalism and Mass Communications

Faculty/Staff News
Garris. Within the week, the facilities
department had a new one in place.
“I remember a cabinet in the hallway
that I really liked, but it happened to
be for another staff member,” Hughes
said. “I mentioned this to Debbie, and
the next day an identical one was sitting
outside my office.”
Garris responds modestly. “I just
want to help make it better for everyone,
especially for those who have been here
awhile,” she said.
Her true passion, however, is not
interior design, but steeplechase horse
racing photography.
While taking a photojournalism
class in 1998, Garris took pictures at
the Carolina Cup steeplechase race in
Camden. She said she became hooked
on horse racing and has traveled to
Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and
Florida to cover races and attend horse
shows. Her work has been published
in Steeplechase Times, Careers in
the Horse Industry and National
Steeplechase Annual.
“The first time I photographed a
horse race I was a bit terrified,” Garris
said. “I could feel them coming down
the track before I saw them.”
Now, five years later, she says she is
a lot calmer and stays safe by following
the No. 1 rule of thumb – “When you’re
on the track, keep your eyes on the
horses.”
Her love for steeplechase racing goes
beyond taking photos. An admitted stats
junkie, Garris follows jockeys, changes
in rules and horse racing around the
country.
“One of my life goals is to go
to the Triple Crown’s three races
– the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and
Belmont,” Garris said.
The way she has immersed herself
in redesigning the school’s work
spaces is similar to how she said she
has immersed herself in horse racing
photography.
“I’m the kind of person who sets
her mind to something and does it 100
percent,” she said. “I don’t know why,
but I just enjoy projects, despite all the
headaches and unmet deadlines – it’s the
end result that makes it worth it.”
Her dedication does not go
unnoticed, especially recently when the
School underwent accreditation review.
“Debbie was the force behind getting
this place spruced up and looking good
for the accreditation visit,” Hughes said.
“Her ideas and renovations were the
icing on the cake you could say.”
Garris continues to find and make
new space for additional faculty. Her
daydream, of course, is to move the
School into a newly designed building
with more space for faculty, staff and
students.
“Until then, you make do with what
you have, and you get creative,” she
said. “I even thought of downsizing
the men’s bathrooms and turning the
extra space into offices.” Then she adds:
“Shhh. Don’t tell anyone.”
Before
After
Faculty members Laura Smith, Pat McNeely, Ernie Wiggins and Cheryl Harris, seated,
gather in ‘Debbie’s Cafe’ and chat over morning coffee.
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