Deborah Blanch profile spotlights education, law enforcement and service

Influential Women has published a profile of Deborah Blanch, DBA, an adjunct professor at Saint Leo University and former Newport News Sheriff’s Office leader. The profile highlights her career in higher education, public safety, veteran service and caregiving, along with her advice for women entering education. Why it matters: - Deborah Blanch’s career spans higher education, law enforcement and veteran advocacy, showing how one leader can move across sectors while centering service and workforce development. - Her profile also points to a broader education issue: colleges increasingly rely on instructors who can connect classroom learning to working adults’ real-world needs. What happened: - Influential Women published a profile of Deborah Blanch, DBA, an adjunct professor at Saint Leo University. - The profile says Blanch has more than 30 years of experience across higher education and law enforcement. - Blanch also taught at the University of Phoenix and Bryant & Stratton College. - Her academic focus includes business management, leadership and professional development courses. - The profile highlights her prior service with the City of Newport News Sheriff’s Office, where she reached the rank of sergeant and shift commander over 15 years. The details: - Blanch said her teaching approach centers on meeting learners where they are and on making coursework practical and adaptable. - The profile says that approach is designed to help traditional and non-traditional students connect class material to professional environments. - In law enforcement, Blanch was one of the first women in five decades to serve on the department’s Honor Guard. - She trained sheriffs and police officers nationwide in technical skills and soft skills. - Blanch also redesigned the department’s Trusty Worker program. - The redesigned program created structured work opportunities for inmates, cut operational costs and helped participants build skills for reintegration. - Blanch serves in the American Legion Auxiliary and will become Department President in 2027. - She held the role of National Chaplain in 2019. - Her writing has appeared in the American Legion Auxiliary magazine. - Blanch holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Argosy University Phoenix and an MBA from American InterContinental University. - The profile says her parents shaped her values around discipline, education, compassion and service. - Her father, First Sergeant Wilbur Jones, served as a meritorious chaplain. - Her mother, Ruth Elizabeth Jones, worked as both a teacher and a nurse. - Blanch has cared for her mother at home since 2010 as her mother approaches age 95. - Her father lived with Alzheimer’s disease, and her mother has dementia. Between the lines: - Blanch’s profile frames leadership as a mix of classroom instruction, public service and caregiving rather than a single career track. - Her comments also reflect a concern shared by many educators after the pandemic: digital communication has not replaced face-to-face trust-building. - The profile presents her caregiving role as part of the same discipline and duty that shaped her professional life. What’s next: - Blanch is set to lead the American Legion Auxiliary’s Department in 2027. - She continues to encourage young women in education to build on the leadership skills they already use in caregiving, mentoring and community work. - She also urges educators to keep strengthening communication skills and pursue continued academic development. The bottom line: - Blanch’s profile is a portrait of a longtime public servant who has translated law enforcement experience into teaching, mentorship and veteran advocacy. - More information