Deborah Kingsberry currently is the Executive Director of Academic Institute of Central Carolina in Charlotte, North Carolina which she established in 2009. Under her leadership, the agency offers services to Mecklenburg, Union, and Gaston Counties. Pre-College Services are provided to the noted counties with funding for Educational Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Center. In addition,  Ms Kingsberry directs two Classic Upward Bound Programs servicing four Charlotte Mecklenburg High Schools.  Deborah was the North Carolina Council of Educational Opportunity Personnel (NCCEOP) president for two terms 2003-07.

From 2009 to 2015, Ms. Kingsberry was the Owner /President of Academic Achievement Academy, a tutoring company in North and South Carolina providing tutorial services in low performing schools in both states in over 25 school districts. Also, prior to her current positions, she was Director of Upward Bound/Talent Search at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC for 12 years. Ms. Kingsberry taught Criminal Justice at Indiana University South Bend and spear headed their minority recruitment efforts. She held other positions that allowed her to serve as an advocate for educational opportunity for students in meeting their academic goals.

Ms. Kingsberry holds a BS in Social Work and Criminal Justice from Ball State University, an MPA in Public Management from Indiana University, and is an Upward Bound graduate from the University of Notre Dame. Ms. Kingsberry continues to be a CHAMPION of TRiO and promotes educational opportunity for all. Her personal struggle and professional mission lends to her motto, “ Nine tenth’s of Education is Encouragement”. Her vision for the agency is reach the communities served and make education an option for all who have the goal and the dream.