Meet the Dean

About the Dean

Dr. Debbie Thomas is Founding Dean of the College of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies and has served as Chief Academic Officer for the Galveston Campus of Texas A&M University since August 2022. She joined Texas A&M in 2004 as an assistant professor and holds the rank of professor in the Department of Oceanography. Previously, Dr. Thomas served as the Dean of the College of Geosciences and head of the Department of Oceanography at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Thomas received her master’s degree in Marine Sciences and her doctoral degree in Geological Sciences from the University of North Carolina. She earned her undergraduate degree in Geological Sciences from Brown University while also fulfilling her dream of competing as a four-year Division I scholar-athlete.

Dr. Thomas, who specializes in the field of paleoceanography, studies the chemical composition of marine sediments to reconstruct past climate with a particular interest in the climate dynamics of globally warm periods of time in Earth’s history. Her work relies on seafloor samples collected through the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). She has led international research teams through IODP and successfully proposed and led IODP Expedition 378 to recover cores from the South Pacific to contribute to our understanding of past climate (January- February 2020).

Dr. Thomas’ honors include being named a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, a Center for Teaching Excellence Montague Scholar, and a college-level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching from the Texas A&M Association of Former Students.

Dr. Debbie Thomas

Founding Dean, College of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies

• dthomas@tamu.edu

Administrative Contact Stephanie Frye '11 Sr. Administrative Coordinator I Stephanie.frye@tamug.edu | (409) 740-4889

The College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies truly is a destination of choice for learners, scholars and professionals who seek to become leaders in coastal, marine and maritime fields. Aggies by the Sea have the best of both worlds – the unparalleled, world-class experience of Texas A&M University combined with the family-like atmosphere of the Galveston Campus."