Deana is from Indianapolis, Indiana and attended Chatard Catholic high school. She then attended Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and French. Deana attended law school at Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis and obtained a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1991.
Deana began her legal career working as a Deputy Prosecutor with the Marion County Prosecuting Attorney’s office in Indianapolis, Indiana for approximately 9 years primarily focusing in the Domestic Violence courts. Also of note, she had the responsibility to oversee the Federal Weed and Seed drug and weapons grant and worked on various crime eradication initiatives with law enforcement and community leaders on the west side of Indianapolis. During her last year of her employment as a prosecutor, she served as the supervisor of the Domestic Violence Unit.
November 1996 to May 1998, Deana served as staff counsel for the Indiana Gaming Commission (“Commission”). In this capacity she worked very closely with the Commission audit staff to review and approve table gaming schematics, slot machine gaming devices and riverboat casino marketing proposals and activities offered to the public and held on licensed Indiana Riverboats. She also worked with the Indiana State Police to conduct background checks of Indiana Riverboat occupational licensees who sought employment on the riverboat casinos. Finally, she assisted the Commission general counsel and drafted rules of play for table games.
Deana worked at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) from 1999 to 2008 where she worked in Enforcement Services Agent, Gambling and Amateurism Activities department. In this department she investigated allegations of NCAA rules violations involving gambling, sports agents and amateur status. She also provided educational presentations on these matters to member schools and universities; conferences as well as student-athletes and professional sports organizations and players associations.
May 2008 Deana began working at the National Football League as the Director of NFL Player Security Services and her current role is serving as the Player Engagement Director of Education. Her primary responsibility is to implement and coordinate educational conduct related programming for NFL personnel including players. In 2014, she coordinated and lead the NFL’s Domestic Violence educational efforts.
June 2015 to present Deana began working at Arizona State University where she is a Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator. She is primarily responsible for co-sport supervision over several sports teams; Sun Devil Athletics Title IX Deputy; liaison to campus for student-athlete engagement and health and welfare initiatives; oversees Sun Devil Athletics Sports Nutrition program; liaison to Sun Devil Athletics Counseling Lead; served on the Pac-12 Council and is the SWA liaison to the Pac-12 Swimming and Diving Coaches Committee; and currently serves as the SWA liaison to the Pac-12 Wrestling Coaches Committee.