Meet The Dean

A dedicated servant-leader, the Reverend Dr. Debra Haggins previously served as interim pastor of the historic Queen Street Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia. Prior to that, she served as assistant to the chaplain and faculty advisor to the Student Christian Association at Hampton University. Dr. Haggins has also built a distinguished professional career within both the Virginia Beach City Public School System and the Norfolk Public School System, where her commitment to education and community flourished.

 

Her academic journey reflects a lifelong pursuit of excellence and purpose. She earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Early Childhood Education from Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, where she proudly joined the sisterhood of the Eta Theta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She went on to receive a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Secondary School Administration and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (C.A.S.) in Higher Education Administration, both from Old Dominion University.

 

Answering a deeper calling, she earned a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in Theology from The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. In May 2017, Hampton University conferred upon her the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Higher Education Leadership and Management — a milestone that crowned years of scholarly dedication. She further distinguished herself by earning a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from Emory University’s prestigious Candler School of Theology, with a field of emphasis in Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation.

 

Beyond her many professional and academic accomplishments, Reverend Dr. Haggins is perhaps most proud of her greatest blessing: she is the devoted mother of Brian, Steven, and Bradley Haggins.