Debra Scala Giokas

Debra Scala Giokas always loved to read and write and visit the library. As a child, she wrote letters to family and friends and poems for special occasions. In college she chose to focus her studies on literature and American history.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude, from Stony Brook University, and in 2024, returned to her alma mater as the Strategic Communications Manager for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, after a long career as a marketing director at large law firms on Long Island. She still mentors students at Stony Brook University.

From 2006 until 2012, she taught a marketing course at Dowling College as an Adjunct Assistant Professor where she earned her MBA.

She has been recognized with awards from the International Association of Business Communicators -- Long Island Chapter; the Public Relations Professionals of Long Island; Long Island Business News; and also a Distinguished Service Award and a New York State Citation Award which was presented at the Town of Islip's Women's History Month Celebration.

Debra enjoys learning and writing about women in American history. She also loves clothes, yarn (and coffee!) almost as much as words. She attended the Stony Brook Southampton Writer's Conference in 2017 and took a picture book workshop with Emma Walton Hamilton. Then she joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and won the newsletter naming competition for the Long Island Chapter. Her first book was a children's picture book on the American fashion designer, Claire McCardell.

Debra's grandmother had taught her how to crochet when she was seven. A few years ago, Debra became a professional member of the Crochet Guild of America. She was included in the June 2018 issue of Woman's Day's "Kindness Project" for creating a "doll that does good," as many were donated to charities, in memory of her dad.

Originally from Astoria, Queens, New York, Debra lives in the friendliest town on Long Island with her husband George and their Maltese dogs, Zoe Ana and Gracie who was named after Grace Coolidge. George is a journalism professor at Stony Brook University, a writer, and a great cook. His book, a young adult novel, is called NICKEL ICE. They are huge New York Mets fans, participate in 5k races for local charities, and enjoy travelling to historic places in the United States.

These days Debra enjoys sharing what she learned about the first ladies, especially at libraries and museums and historical associations. In addition to presenting at her hometown library and to the Oyster Bay Historical Society and the Bayport Blue Point Heritage Association on Long Island, she presented virtually at the James Madison Museum of Orange County Heritage, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Foundation in conjunction with the Hebert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, as part of its Third Thursdays of the Month series, and the National First Ladies' Library and Museum.

She was recently appointed a Hutton House Lecturer at C.W. Post College/Long Island University and is a member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE). In 2024, a story in East Wing Magazine about her research on the first ladies was selected a Top 10 Readers' Choice.

More information about her talks may be found here. She may be reached at debrasg22@gmail.com.