Deborah Dryer Vo (2018) - Hall of Fame - Brown University Athletics

Deborah Dryer Vo

Induction:
2018
Class:
2006

A two-time NCAA champion, three-time NCAA medalist, and a four-time Eastern Sprints medalist, Deborah Dryer Vo ’06 helped Brown women’s crew finish as a top-three team at the NCAA Championships in all four of her seasons, including winning a national team title in 2004.

Occupying the stroke seat for the majority of her races with the Bears, Vo reached the pinnacle of NCAA rowing success in 2004 when she won gold in the first varsity eight and as a team at the NCAA Championships. Earlier that season, she also claimed gold in the second varsity eight at Eastern Sprints.

Vo opened her career at Brown with a gold medal in the novice eight at Eastern Sprints and a gold medal in the varsity four and silver medal in the team standings at the 2003 NCAA Championships. She proceeded to capture gold in the club eight event at the Henley Women’s Regatta.

In 2005, Vo finished in third place in the double at the U23 World Championships following an NCAA season in which she won bronze in the first varsity eight at Eastern Sprints and bronze as a team at the NCAA Championships. As a senior, she took silver in the first varsity eight at Eastern Sprints, bronze in the first varsity eight at NCAAs, and silver as a team at the NCAA Championships. Vo earned First Team All-America accolades in 2006 and garnered Academic All-Ivy laurels as both a junior and senior. She completed undefeated seasons in 2003 and 2004.

Vo came to Brown as one of the top recruits in the country after winning four straight USRowing Youth National Championships in the first varsity eight from 1999-2002. Vo made the U.S. Junior National Team in three straight years from 1999-2001, capturing gold in the four without a coxswain at the 2000 Junior World Championships.

Following graduation, Vo continued rowing with the Friends of Brown Women’s Crew, winning four straight Eastern Sprints Alumnae Eight titles from 2007-10 and adding a Head of the Charles title in 2011.

Professionally, Vo has taught, coached and served as an administrator at both Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Md., and at St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H. She led Elizabeth Seton to its first-ever league championship in 2009, while guiding Potomac Boat Club to medals at the Club National Championships in both 2009 and 2010. In 2011, she earned the High School Principal’s Association Veteran Teacher of the Year award for the Washington, D.C./Maryland/Virginia region.