REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
Deidra K. Diaz
Southern Regional Director
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Deidra K. Diaz is the Southern Regional Director of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, the largest region in the Sorority with more than 20,000 financial members. Her historic election via a Virtual Regional Conference made her the first and only member of the Southern Region of Delta Sigma Theta ever to serve as Regional Director and Regional Representative.
Prior to her election, Delta’s National President and CEO Beverly E. Smith appointed her to the National Board of Directors as the Chair, National Information & Communications Committee. This appointment included leadership over the Delta brand, where she introduced the Sorority’s first ever Brand Style Guide and the enhanced Sorority Crest. In 2015, Soror Diaz made history as the youngest Chair of the National Nominating Committee in the last half century. In this role she served under the leadership of 25th National President, Dr. Paulette C. Walker.
Deidra was initiated into DST through the Lambda Zeta Chapter at The University of Alabama in 1996 and will earn her 25-year membership status in 2021. She has remained active and financial since her initiation, and has registered for and attended every Southern Regional Conference and National Convention since she joined the Sorority.
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She is a member of the Birmingham Alumnae Chapter, a Diamond Life member and a double legacy via her mother and sister. Her mother has been a Delta for 51 years.
An abridged list of Deidra’s Delta leadership: 14th Southern Regional Representative, 1997-1999 under 21st National President Marcia L. Fudge; Chair, Southern Regional Nominating Committee from 2011-2014; Appointed to 2 National Committees by 22nd National President Gwendolyn E. Boyd; & 4 years of service on the National Collegiate Transition Task Force.
Deidra’s community involvement includes Community Engagement Chair of The World Games 2022; The Links, Incorporated and the Junior League. Past leadership includes being the first Black woman to ever serve as President of the University of Alabama Alumni Association - Jefferson County Chapter, one of the University’s largest alumni chapters in the country and Founding President of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s Leadership Council.
A few of Deidra’s honors & awards include: Ebony magazine – Top 30 Leader of the Future; Who’s Who of Black Alabama; NAACP Women’s History Month WOW Award; “I Am Empowered” Civil Rights & Racial Justice Award - Birmingham Urban League, Gold Award winner from The Birmingham News, Scott-Hawkins Leadership Institute, and United States Congressional Black Caucus Emerging Leader.
She is married to Joseph Diaz and God blessed them with the most amazing son, Matthew, age 3, who promised his mother that he would marry a Delta!
Ja'Mia Watson-Jenkins
Southern Regional Secretary
Ja’Mia Watson-Jenkins is a graduate of the Birmingham City Schools, where she attended Ramsay High School. She went on to attend Alabama State University where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with emphasis in Computer Information Systems. She also attended Samford University where she earned an MBA. JaMia is currently employed with Bancorpsouth as the Consumer Deposits Manager. She was previously employed with BBVA Compass for 18 years, holding positions as a Banking Center Manager, Business Process Analysis, Project Manager and Business Product Manager. Ja’Mia Watson-Jenkins was initiated into the Beta Eta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in 1996 at Alabama State University. She is currently a member of Birmingham Alumnae Chapter where she is Co-Chair of Program Planning & Development and a member of Membership Services. She previously served as Co-Chair of EMBODI for 4 years. She is a certified DID Trainer. She was appointed by her long-time friend to serve as the Southern Regional Secretary. Ja’Mia is a lifelong member of Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church where she is a Steward, member of the Choir and Courtesy Guild. She is the past Membership Chair of the Jefferson/Shelby County Alumni Chapter of Alabama State University. Ja’Mia proudest accomplishments are her two sons, Parker Chase & Preston Cole Jenkins.