Debra Smith is a licensed architect who has been with the University of California, Davis for ten years as a senior project manager in major capital projects. She is also an Associate Director of Major Capital Project Management and is the sustainability resource for Design and Construction Management on campus. She collaborates with sustainability efforts across campus especially with Facilities, Student Housing, and the Sustainability office. She hosts a monthly campus forum to share progress and alignment of sustainability efforts in the campus built environment.

Debra is a co-chair for the Fossil Free Fuel Pathway Plan under the Campus Advisory Committee on Sustainability. As such, she co-authored two chapters as well as assisted in coordinating the Plan which is out for public comment. Her input focused upon Building Solutions for electrifying the existing building stock and ways to revise policy for Capital Planning and Space Management in decarbonizing the campus.