March 22, 2014
The Governor’s Office announced today the appointment of Debra Ferguson, Ph.D., Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Debra Ferguson, Ph.D., is the Senior Deputy & Chief of Clinical Operations for the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health (DMH). Dr. Ferguson is a Clinical & Forensic Psychologist having received her Bachelor’s Degree from Williams College, in Williamstown, MA, and her M.Phil. and Ph.D. from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Upon completing her graduate studies, Dr. Ferguson was commissioned as a Captain in the U.S. Army, and completed an internship in Clinical Psychology at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Upon completing her internship, she served as Division Psychologist and Assistant Chief of Mental Health, for 2nd Armored Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. Upon leaving active duty, she completed a post-doctoral residency program in Clinical Psychology at the Yale University School of Medicine. Within DMH she has served as a hospital Chief Psychologist, Director of Juvenile Forensics and Associate Deputy Director for Forensics for the Division. Dr. Ferguson has over 25 years of experience as a Clinical & Forensic Psychologist in both private practice and public sector institutions.