DIANNE DINKEL
Secretary & Treasurer

​Dr. Dianne Dinkel comes to the Witkop Foundation with a rich background in education and finance, completing her MBA degree with Arizona State University, her EdD with Northern Arizona University and putting those skills to task for over 28 years in various capacities. She served as the senior fiscal officer at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix AZ and as the Vice President of Business Affairs for Concordia University in Chicago as well as Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago. In 2006 she began service as fiscal director and ultimately President/CEO of ATHENA International – an organization that supports, develops and honors women leaders through multiple leadership programs.

An educator by heart, Dianne stepped back into her mentorship role in 2011 where she serves as an Assistant Professor with Charleston Southern University in Charleston SC, teaching courses in Ethical Management Decision making, Innovative Managerial Strategies, Managing Diverse Cultures and Social Entrepreneurship. 

Dr. Dinkel’s awards include Who’s Who in Higher Education (1994), Grand Canyon University Distinguished Alumnus, Outstanding Service Award for Public Education from the American Cancer Society, The International Alliance for Women 2009 World of Difference Award, The 100 Women Making a Difference in Chicago from Today’s Chicago Woman magazine (2011), The Women of Wealth magazine, 2011 America’s Women Top Mentoring Leaders award, The Sand Springs Education Foundation 2013 Hall of Fame Inductee, and In 2014 the recipient of the prestigious ATHENA National Leadership Award, where she remains to this day as a Founding Lifetime member and mentor of ATHENA and their mission. 

"I am honored to be a part of the Witkop Foundation. The work that I do pales in comparison to the sacrifices made by our military men and women and their families. My father was a veteran and taught me to make a difference in someone's life, every day. I believe that working with the Witkop Foundation will allow me to honor and give back to our military families who have given so much; and we can make a difference in their lives."