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10-2008 Former NBC Producer Debbie Michel now Teaching at Andrews University Keri Suarez Andrews University

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Recommended Citation Suarez, Keri, "Former NBC Producer Debbie Michel now Teaching at Andrews University" (2008). Lake Union Herald. 564. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/luh-pubs/564

This News is brought to you for free and open access by the Lake Union Herald at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Lake Union Herald by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Former NBC producer office, turn on the TV and then hit the mute button. As a jour- Debbie Michel now nalist, you need to keep abreast teaching at Andrews of the day’s events but I found that I would much rather listen University to programs on 3ABN or Amaz- News of Saddam Hussein’s capture ing Facts TV on the Internet.” broke on a Saturday. While it made In November that same year, international headlines, the impact the she was baptized alongside her timeline of events had on Debbie Mi- soon-to-be husband, Jean-Ires. chel, a producer for Dateline NBC and a As part of her newfound new Seventh-day Adventist Christian, faith, Michel made a personal was like none other. It was her week- commitment to keep the Sab- end on duty. “In two and a half years of bath. Over the next two and a a breaking news rotation, I never once half years—the last years she had a Sabbath conflict, not even when spent with NBC—Michel says, Hussein was captured,” she says. “God “I never once had a Sabbath set it up.” conflict even though I was fully Michel, a new associate professor of prepared to tell my manager I communication who teaches journal- couldn’t work on the Sabbath.” Debbie Michel received an Emmy nomination for her role as co-producer of Dateline’s “Saddam Hussein’s Capture”; ism at Andrews University, came from When their daughter, Chris- a National Headliner Award for Dateline’s coverage of the New York City, working in a top-tier tiana, entered the world in No- Washington D.C. sniper story; and the NBC “Ovation Award” for news market for one of the most suc- vember 2004, Michel used her “Above and Beyond Effort” on the sniper story. cessful news programs in the history of maternity leave not only to bond journalism. While it might seem to be with her newborn, but also to for Michel. “To this day, I don’t know a puzzling career move to relocate to more fully connect with God. “I spent how this happened,” says Michel of her a small town and work for a Christian a lot of time thinking, reading and visit to Andrews University. “I came college, “God said to me: ‘This is where praying. God started speaking to me.” here and saw the media ministry; that I want you to be,’” says Michel. She eventually re-entered the work- got me excited. I was excited about the Michel earned her B.S. in journal- force, but just a short six months later, prospect of teaching students journal- ism at Brooklyn College at the City Michel realized, “It’s time to leave.” ism in a Christian environment. God University of New York. She then “God gave me time to figure out said to me, ‘This is where I want you continued her studies in journalism at what to do and make a graceful exit to be.’” the master’s level with an emphasis in from NBC,” she says. “That decision Now Michel is taking the knowl- broadcast communication at Columbia meant taking a leap of faith to leave edge of media and communications University. behind a seemingly-secure job in the that she acquired working in the field In 1995, Michel began what would media capital of the world—New York and is applying it to the classroom for become an 11-year tenure at NBC. She City—without any prospective job in students at Andrews University. worked for NBC News, Nightly News with hand and to follow in the footsteps of “My path has led to Andrews Tom Brokaw, Dateline NBC and NBC Christ.” With a new baby and the cost University where I have the awesome Productions, where she produced of living in New York City, it was a leap privilege and responsibility of teaching documentaries and news segments for of faith for Michel to leave her secure budding journalists and other com- a client list that ranged from Discovery career and wait for God to lead. “My munications specialists. I pray that my Channel to National Geographic to Good heart was with Christiana, ministry experience will motivate students to Housekeeping magazine. and mission. I stayed home and just want to write and report stories that It was in late 2003 when Michel prayed for the next step.” will in some way, shape or form draw realized there was a void in her life, a In 2007, God started to open people from out of this world of sinful void that not even a successful career doors. Michel had the opportunity to darkness and into God’s marvelous could fill. As she prayed and studied, take a teaching position in a warmer light.” she found herself drawn to spiritual climate, just two hours away from her programming. “I would come into the parents. But that wasn’t the right door Keri Suarez, media relations specialist, Andrews University

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