• MA, Dental Hygiene IMA, Antioch University, 1991
• BS, Dental Hygiene, University of South Dakota, 1982

• Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation, South Dakota State Board of Dentistry
• Local Anesthesia, South Dakota State Board of Dentistry
• Periodontics, Advanced Functions, Northern Arizona University
• Licensed, Registered Dental Hygienist, South Dakota State Board of Dentistry

• Health Affairs Medical Informatics Committee (HAMIC) Technology Grant, USD School of Medicine. Grant Role: Principal. (2011 - 2011)
• Clinical Management Program for Dental Hygiene, USD IT. Grant Role: Principal. (2010 - Present)
• CIDD Faculty Development, USD CIDD. (2006 - 2007)
• Faculty Development Grant, USD. (1998 - 1999)
• Hutterite Communities of South Dakota, SHS Cultural Competency Committee. Grant Role: Principal. (2012)

Citations listed below are presented in a standardized, modified format for display purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the preferred style and conventions of the faculty member or discipline.

• Nelson, Deb, Jorgensen, Kathy, , and . Building Interdisciplinary Teamwork Among Allied Health Students Through LIve Clinical Case Simulations, 109-123. Vol. 37, Iss. 2. J. Allied Health. 2008 Summer, 2008.
• Nelson, Deb, Kennedy, Beverly, Regnerus, Carissa, and Schweinle, Amy. Accuracy of Automated Blood Pressure Monitors, 35. Vol. 82, Iss. 4. Chicago, Ill: Journal of Dental Hygiene, 2008.
• Nelson, Deb. Interdisciplinary Health Fair for Seniors: Service Learning in Higher Education. Vol. 11, Iss. 11. The ASHA Leader, 2006.
• Kennedy, Beverly, and Nelson, Deb. Medical-Dental Emergencies Chapter, 478-502. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2000.
• Nelson, Deb. Saunders Review of Dental Hygiene. Edited by Debralee M. Nelson, 666. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: W.B. Saunders Company, 2000.
• Nelson, Deb. Periodontics adn. Contemporary Dental Assisting.

• Associate Fellow, World Clinical Laser Institute, 2009
• South Dakota Dental Hygienist of the Year, South Dakota Dental Hygienists' Association, 1996

• Nelson, Deb. Periodontal Pathogens & Salivary Diagnostics. Presented at the Dakota Days Continuing Education, Winery. (October 1, 2010)
• Nelson, Deb. Human Papillomavirus. Presented at the Dakota Days Continuing Education, Vermillion, SD. (October 10, 2009)
• Huff, E, Buelow, Janet, Jorgensen, Kathy, Nelson, Deb, Ekstrom, Richard, Smallfield, Stacy, Johnson, Marni. Interdisciplinary health fairs for seniors: Service learning in higher education. Presented at the American Speech and Hearing Association Convention, Miami, FL. (November 2006)
• Buelow, Janel, Nelson, Deb, Jorgensen, Kathy, Peterson, M., Smallfield, Stacy, Ekstrom, Richard, Huff, E.. Interdisciplinary health fairs for senior citizens. Presented at the Midwest Consortium for Service-Learning in Higher Education, Vermillion, SD. (September 2005)