Dr. DeBerry earned her B.S. degree in Zoology from the University of Maryland College Park and her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  Her area of specialization is cell biology.  She teaches freshman biology, biochemistry, experimental biology, forensic science, and a January-term course entitled "Sex, Aging, and Death: A Biological Perspective." 

Her research interests include receptor tyrosine kinases and signal transduction; apoptosis in normal and cancer cells; and characterization of glutamate receptor subunits in salamander retina. 

Additionally, she has many service activities including serving on the Washington & Jefferson Biochemistry Major Advisory Committee and serving as course coordinator for Bio 101 (first-semester freshman biology).  She also created and maintains an extensive Webpage listing biology undergraduate internships for her department.