Debbie M. Thorne, Ph.D. is the Executive Vice President and Provost. In this role, she provides vision and leadership in all matters relating to academic programs and the pursuit of academic excellence at Florida Gulf Coast University. She joined FGCU in 2025 and works with President Aysegul Timur and President’s Cabinet to shape and execute the university’s strategic plan and priorities.

Prior to her appointment at FGCU, she was in residence at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte through the American Council on Education's fellowship program. From 2017 to 2024, she served as the senior vice provost at Texas State University with responsibilities for academic budgets and resources, faculty recruitment, success, and retention, and shared governance. Dr. Thorne joined Texas State as Chair, Department of Marketing and later served as Presidential Fellow and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, with oversight for curriculum, distance and online learning, and international affairs.

Reflecting deep roots as a scholar-teacher and FGCU Professor of Marketing, Dr. Thorne is the recipient of multiple teaching and research awards and an invited lecturer for universities in Austria, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, and Thailand. She is widely published and co-author of Business & Society: A Strategic Approach to Social Responsibility (8th edition). She has also taught at Mississippi State University and the University of Tampa.

Dr. Thorne received a Ph.D. in business administration from The University of Memphis, M.S. from Texas A & M University, and B.B.A from Abilene Christian University. Before academe, Dr. Thorne was in product development with Texas Instruments. She enjoys international travel and foods, collegiate athletics, and traversing cultural districts.