Debra McGaughey

Debra McGaughey serves as the Assistant Vice President for marketing and communication at the University of Houston-Downtown since July 2023, overseeing functions for a 15,000-student university. With extensive experience in communications, McGaughey has been with Houston Community College since June 2003, initially as Director of Communication Services for Central College and previously managing HCCTV as General Manager. Prior roles include directing public relations and community outreach initiatives at HCC Southwest and HCC Southeast colleges and serving as Director of Marketing and Public Relations at K. Mack & Associates. McGaughey’s early career includes news reporting for the Dallas Morning News, KDAF-TV, and KHOU-TV, with a foundation in journalism as a news producer at Baylor College of Medicine. Academic credentials include a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University.