New Faces

As the first few weeks of the fall semester are passing, students and faculty are getting settled into their routines and schedules. 

But it’s not only the freshmen who are new faces on campus.  

The College of Education added nine new faces to their faculty and staff!  

Professors and lecturers at the Troy, Dothan, Phenix City, Montgomery, and other supporting campuses all welcomed new additions to their programs.  

Dr. Delaine Bennett joined the Leadership Development and Professional Studies at the Phenix City campus.  

Her energetic spirit brings an upbeat sense of positivity to the Phenix City Campus, and her love for Troy, her students, and learning keeps her motivated.  

Dr. Bennett attended Troy University after moving from Georgia in 1989 to major in elementary education. She earned her master's degree in School Psychometry and School Administration.   

After working as a Kindergarten teacher, school psychometrist, and in school administration, she decided to go back to school to complete her doctorate in educational leadership and pursue a career in higher education.   

Currently living in Eufaula, Alabama in a restored a historic home across the street from Shorter Mansion., she has been married to Jason, a Troy graduate, for 24 years, and has two daughters, Bailey (a sophomore at Troy) and Betsy (a junior in high school).  

Dr. Bennett has two passions in research: technology influences in education, and how leading schools has changed with the implementation of such a wide array of technology.  

“I was intrigued with how one leads a school from behind a screen,” she said, “and made this the topic for my dissertation.” 

Her second research interest is the importance of operating a school like a business.  She explained that so many times, school leaders forget that branding, marketing, and resource management are just as important as student achievement. 

School leaders must understand the importance of selling the product and having a quality product to sell even when creating the product on a shoe-string budget!   

The students are her favorite part of her job.  

“Professors and professionals can learn just as much from students as the students learn from us,” she says.

“It is so exciting to watch students set a goal and know you were a part of helping the student reach the goal. Inspiring others is so rewarding and keeps me going to help the next person!” 

Dr. Bennett says her favorite part of Troy University is the “Sooouuuunnnndddd of the Soooouuuuttttthhhhh!” and the chills she gets every time she hears this announcement followed by the trumpets at the beginning of halftime!