Meet Dr. Dee Stokes
Dr. Dee Stokes is a spiritual leader/advisor, preacher, entrepreneur, educator, author, coach, and church planter who focuses on innovative ministry, purposeful leadership, and Kingdom education in an effort to "Build Influential People Who Change the World and Live Out the Gospel Practically." Dr. Stokes has spent over 30 years in higher education as a basketball coach, professor, and administrator. After 18 years as a coach, her dreams and desires turned to full-time ministry. Although not roaming the sidelines, she still has a passion for athletes, coaches, and the game she loves: basketball. Her passion allows her to impact coaches and stay involved in the game.
Early in her career, Dr. Stokes worked at such institutions as the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Murray State, Texas A&M University, Winthrop University, and the University of Nebraska as an assistant coach. Stokes was the head coach at East Carolina University, Winston-Salem State University, and Southeastern University. She was also an Assistant Professor of Education at Southeastern. She has been a Pre-K through 8th grade school administrator, an adjunct in both Ohio University's graduate Online Coaching Education program and Belhaven University in their graduate Online Sports Administration and Leadership programs, and currently an adjunct in the business and technology department at Davidson-Davie Community College. Bishop Stokes does this while serving in the local church as Overseer/Lead Pastor of T.E.A.M. Church, a global network of house churches that serve, do good, and love their neighbors, and as the President/CEO of Dee Stokes Ministries, Inc. Pastor Dee served over two years as a pastor (Associate & Lead) at Unity UMC in Thomasville, NC, where she focused on spiritual formation, community relations, and leadership development. Bishop Dee was the first Black person to serve as Pastor in Unity's history. She has also been involved in an incarnational movement called Fresh Expressions (freshexpressions.com).
Dr. Stokes has over 30 years of experience in education and has served at every level: Pre-K through 8th grade, high school, seminary, 4-year university, and the community college level. Professor, Bible teacher, principal, mentor, dissertation committee member, coach, and director are all of the titles Dr. Stokes has held while being an educator. Dr. Stokes holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership, an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership from Liberty University, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UNC Charlotte, a Master of Public Administration from DeVry University, and a Master of Biblical and Theological Foundations from Asbury Theological Seminary. Dr. Stokes also has an online certificate in Theology and Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary and has studied Pentecostal Theology at Global University. Her research interests include emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence, transformational leadership, burnout, and unconscious bias. She would eventually like to do research in the area of burnout and college coaches. Dr. Stokes travels globally, presenting cultural intelligence and leadership workshops. Dr. Stokes also serves as a spiritual life coach.
Beside her 2010 book Experiencing GRACE: One woman’s year long journey with God after the death of her mother, which is under her pen name of D. Michelle Stokes, Dr. Stokes wrote a story for the 2009 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inside Basketball book entitled “Sideline MVP," and also has written a brochure titled 21st Century Leadership highlighting her research and the need for corporate succession planning. Dr. Stokes also published her dissertation in book form titled Cultural Intelligence, Transformational Leadership, and Burnout: The 21st Century Leader's Playbook for Understanding the Relationship Between CQ, TL, and Burnout, and has a two-volume devotional, Break the Box: A Message of Hope and Inspiration. Her most recent publication is titled Cultural Competence Workbook: The Key to Loving One's Neighbor.
Dr. Stokes lives in the Triad area of North Carolina and has been heavily involved in Thomasville and the Triad, serving on several boards, including, but not limited to, the UNC Charlotte Alumni Board of Directors, the Triad Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Trellis Supportive Care board. She is a dedicated and devoted follower of Jesus and wishes everyone to experience intimacy with the Lord and live out the Gospel practically!
Early in her career, Dr. Stokes worked at such institutions as the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Murray State, Texas A&M University, Winthrop University, and the University of Nebraska as an assistant coach. Stokes was the head coach at East Carolina University, Winston-Salem State University, and Southeastern University. She was also an Assistant Professor of Education at Southeastern. She has been a Pre-K through 8th grade school administrator, an adjunct in both Ohio University's graduate Online Coaching Education program and Belhaven University in their graduate Online Sports Administration and Leadership programs, and currently an adjunct in the business and technology department at Davidson-Davie Community College. Bishop Stokes does this while serving in the local church as Overseer/Lead Pastor of T.E.A.M. Church, a global network of house churches that serve, do good, and love their neighbors, and as the President/CEO of Dee Stokes Ministries, Inc. Pastor Dee served over two years as a pastor (Associate & Lead) at Unity UMC in Thomasville, NC, where she focused on spiritual formation, community relations, and leadership development. Bishop Dee was the first Black person to serve as Pastor in Unity's history. She has also been involved in an incarnational movement called Fresh Expressions (freshexpressions.com).
Dr. Stokes has over 30 years of experience in education and has served at every level: Pre-K through 8th grade, high school, seminary, 4-year university, and the community college level. Professor, Bible teacher, principal, mentor, dissertation committee member, coach, and director are all of the titles Dr. Stokes has held while being an educator. Dr. Stokes holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership, an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership from Liberty University, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UNC Charlotte, a Master of Public Administration from DeVry University, and a Master of Biblical and Theological Foundations from Asbury Theological Seminary. Dr. Stokes also has an online certificate in Theology and Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary and has studied Pentecostal Theology at Global University. Her research interests include emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence, transformational leadership, burnout, and unconscious bias. She would eventually like to do research in the area of burnout and college coaches. Dr. Stokes travels globally, presenting cultural intelligence and leadership workshops. Dr. Stokes also serves as a spiritual life coach.
Beside her 2010 book Experiencing GRACE: One woman’s year long journey with God after the death of her mother, which is under her pen name of D. Michelle Stokes, Dr. Stokes wrote a story for the 2009 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inside Basketball book entitled “Sideline MVP," and also has written a brochure titled 21st Century Leadership highlighting her research and the need for corporate succession planning. Dr. Stokes also published her dissertation in book form titled Cultural Intelligence, Transformational Leadership, and Burnout: The 21st Century Leader's Playbook for Understanding the Relationship Between CQ, TL, and Burnout, and has a two-volume devotional, Break the Box: A Message of Hope and Inspiration. Her most recent publication is titled Cultural Competence Workbook: The Key to Loving One's Neighbor.
Dr. Stokes lives in the Triad area of North Carolina and has been heavily involved in Thomasville and the Triad, serving on several boards, including, but not limited to, the UNC Charlotte Alumni Board of Directors, the Triad Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Trellis Supportive Care board. She is a dedicated and devoted follower of Jesus and wishes everyone to experience intimacy with the Lord and live out the Gospel practically!