Deb Giandonato Installation Site

Creator

Lucy Fabiszewski, Ursinus College

Preview

Creation Date

Spring 2025

Description

Digital photograph of the interior vestibule of the Wismer dining hall building on the Ursinus College campus. Student photographs of staff, such as Deb Giandonato, were created for a documentary photography class and temporarily installed around campus as part of the Spring 2025 COSA celebration.

Panel Text

Compassionate, Resilient, Energetic—these three words capture the essence of Deb Giandonato. Deb is a supervisor of the Upper Wismer dining hall here at Ursinus where she’s been happily working for the past 6 years. From the moment she stepped foot on campus Deb felt completely at home, falling in love with the strong sense of community that surrounds her every day with her fellow staff members and students. Outside of Ursinus, Deb also manages a French Bakery & Café in Wayne, PA where she oversees the display cases to ensure that everything is always fresh and looking beautiful. She prides herself on her work ethic, expressing how she loves to keep busy and always stay hustling. If you’re in the dining hall after the hours of 2:30 on any weekday you’re sure to catch Deb rushing around from station to station with a big smile on her face. While Deb has found a home in the Upper Wismer dining hall, some of her fondest memories at Ursinus exist within the walls of the school’s beloved C-Store. Before the recent renovations, Deb got her start here working the register of the lower Wismer convenience store where she was able to interact with students and form meaningful connections.

As a mom of three, Deb has a strong nurturing side which she brings with her wherever she goes both inside and outside of work. When she’s not working Deb loves spending time with her family and their dog Winnie at home in Chester Springs, PA. Having grown up in the suburbs of West Chester and Malvern, PA where she worked on a farm and rode horses, Deb feels a strong connection to the farmland that surrounds her. Going on long walks outside, taking pictures of the peaceful open views and colorful sunsets, Deb is sure to always have her camera out and ready to capture the beautiful moments of life. Her favorite subjects to photograph by far are her kids out on the field as they play their sport. Deb spends most of her Sundays travelling to Manhattan University to watch her son play for the school’s lacrosse team, cheering along on the sidelines. In the stands is a place where Deb feels most at home, which influenced the decision to capture her portraits on the bleachers of Ursinus’ home field, tying together her deep love for both her family and work life.

Rights

Copyright of the underlying work is held by the artist. The digital image presented here is for educational purposes only and is not for commercial use.