Virginia Union University Athletics

Dr. Deborah M. Martin, a sought after preacher,workshop facilitator and ministry consultant, is the Pastor of Real Life Ministries located in North Chesterfield, Virginia. Prior to accepting the call to Real Life, Dr. Martin served as the Pastor of New Chestnut Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Virginia making her the first African American woman called to pastoral leadership in Hanover County. During her season in Hanover County Dr. Martin held the positions of the 1st Vice Moderator and President of the Division of Clergy for the Chickahominy Baptist Association where she was looked upon as a mentor to many clergy men and women. She currently serves on the Executive Council of Judah Ecumenical Covenant Fellowship, under the leadership of Bishop Melvin Williams, Jr.

Dr. Martin has currently serves as the Assistant Dean at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. Previously she served as the Director of Administration & Strategic Initiative, Coordinator of Graduate Admissions & Development, where she was responsible for recruiting and special events. Using her ten years of experience working with seminarians, Dr. Martin was elected to serve two terms as a member of the Advisory Council of Student Resources for the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.

Dr. Martin is a graduate of the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville, Florida where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, in Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio where she obtained a Doctor of Ministry degree concentrating on “The Impact of Cross-Gendered Mentoring Approaches: Mentoring Female Preachers”.