Title: Dean of the Institute

Company: Foundation of Faith Leadership Institute at Gethsemane Community Fellowship Baptist Church

Location: Norfolk, Va.

Following her retirement from a 34-year career teaching in the public school system, The Rev. Dianna Bennett became the Dean of the Foundation of Faith Leadership Institute at Gethsemane Community Fellowship Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA. She has served in that position for the past seven years now, after her senior pastor, Dr. Kirk T. Houston, Sr., asked her to step up into the leadership role.  Due to The Rev. Dianna’s educational background and her service on the church’s council, Dr. Houston thought she would be wonderful for the position, which she accepted with honor.  As the dean, she and her team teach people of faith how to develop as Christian leaders in the home, work place, church and community.

The biggest challenge The Rev. Dianna faces is when students, as emerging leaders, come up against challenges and want to quit. She can’t allow herself to let them ‘throw in the towel’ so easily. Additionally, when the class size has reached its limit, The Rev. Dianna must find a way to keep students in the program, because her sole commitment to the institute is to equip emerging leaders with the tools they need.

A piece of advice that The Rev. Dianna would like to share with the younger generation of women entering the workforce is that, even though life brings us challenges, knowing and trusting in God and following His direction will help us to overcome boundaries and become women of strength.  As a woman in today’s world, The Rev. Dianna’s faith in God has certainly contributed with her success, as have the values instilled in her by her parents. Her mother was an educator and her father was in the Coast Guard; both role models displayed respect and decency to whomever they came in contact.

Prior to her position with the Foundation of Faith Leadership Institute at Gethsemane Community Fellowship Baptist Church, The Rev. Dianna worked for the Norfolk Virginia Public School System teaching, as well as in a leadership role of the Department of Special Education.