Debra A. “Debby” Stegura ’79, immediate past president of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association of the University of California, Davis, will soon be representing all UC graduates as an alumni regent.

Two seats on the Board of Regents are set aside for alumni; the seats are filled on a rotating basis by the main alumni associations of each campus.

When the CAAA last had a turn in 2014-16, Rodney Davis ’71 filled the post. Now, the CAAA board of directors has chosen Stegura for a term from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021. She will serve the first year as an alumni regent-designate and the second year as an alumni regent with voting privileges. All four alumni regents — designates and voting members — serve concurrently as officers of the Alumni Associations of the University of California.

“I am deeply honored to represent alumni who have graduated from the University of California system,” said Stegura, who also serves on the UC Davis Foundation Board of Trustees. “With this new role, I look forward to being a part of important discussions at this level and hope to make a difference in the opportunities available to UC alumni and current students.”

She added: “I hope to be able to leverage the great influence of the 1.8 million UC alumni around the world, and to have important conversations that advance alumni interests and help create positive experiences. This will help alumni and current students create a more successful alumni base by more broadly recruiting prospective students.”

“Her depth of understanding of, and passion for, the university will benefit all of the UC system through her role as alumni regent.” — Rich Engel, assistant vice chancellor, Alumni Relations, and executive director of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association

Stegura is a life member of the CAAA, having joined upon graduation, fully embracing the mission of the association to enrich the lives of alumni, students, families and friends worldwide, and develop lifelong ambassadors. She served as executive vice president in 2017 before moving up to president in 2018.

Rich Engel, assistant vice chancellor for Alumni Relations and executive director of CAAA, said: “Our alumni association has been fortunate to have Debby’s visionary leadership over the past many years. Her depth of understanding of, and passion for, the university will benefit all of the UC system through her role as alumni regent.”

Dedication to higher education

Stegura graduated with honors from the College of Letters and Science, double-majoring in mass communications and political science. She went on to earn a law degree from the University of Southern California and became an accomplished business litigator in Los Angeles.

The former attorney now spends most of her time pursuing her passions and continuing to find ways to make an impact in her community, especially taking time to advocate for higher education and environmental issues.

“A college degree, no matter where you go, is the biggest social mobility tool that we have.” — Debby Stegura

Her volunteer work includes service on behalf of the College Bound program at the Boys and Girls Club of the Los Angeles Harbor. She is an elected member of the Palos Verdes Library District Board; and an appointed member of two Rolling Hills Estates’ city advisory committees, one dealing with environmental issues, the other the general plan.

Stegura also is passionate about philanthropy. She serves on the UC Davis Library Leadership Board and helped found the recently established Women and Philanthropy initiative at the university. She and her family also created an endowed scholarship through CAAA for incoming students from Los Angeles County and support the Dream Scholarship, which assists undocumented students.

“A college degree, no matter where you go, is the biggest social mobility tool that we have,” said Stegura, who was first in her family to attend college.