Background
Diener, Betty Jane was born on September 15, 1940 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Daughter of Edward George and Minnie (Feild) Diener.
educator association administrator
Diener, Betty Jane was born on September 15, 1940 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Daughter of Edward George and Minnie (Feild) Diener.
Bachelor of Arts, Wellesley College, 1962. Master of Business Administration, Harvard University, 1964, Doctor of Business Administration, 1974. Account executive Young & Rubicam, Incorporated., New York City, 1964-1970.
Product manager American Cyanamid Company, Wayne, New Jersey, 1970-1972.
Assistant dean, School Business Case WesternRes. University, Cleveland, 1974-1979.
Dean School Business Administration, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 1979-1982. Secretary commerce and resources Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond, 1982-1986.
Professor marketing Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 1986-1987.
Provost, vice chancellor academic affairs U. Massachusetts, Boston, 1987-1988, professor marketing, 1988, special assistant to chancellor economics development, 1993-1994. President Environmental Business Council New England, Incorporated., 1995-1997.
She served as the Virginia Secretary of Commerce from 1982 to 1986 during the administration of Governor Chuck Robb. and raised in nearby Arlington County, Virginia. Diener received a bachelor"s degree from Wellesley College in 1962 and a master"s degree from Harvard Business School in 1964. In 1974, she also earned her doctorate business administration from Harvard Business School.
Diener served as an assistant dean and professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1979, Diener became the dean of the business school at Old Dominion University. Virginia Governor Chuck Robb appointed Betty Jane Diener as the state Secretary of Commerce in 1982.
As head of Commerce, Diener oversaw 22 state agencies and 52 boards and commissions, encompassing an annual budget of $945 million with approximately 4,000 state employees. She was responsible for a diverse array of issues, including agriculture, the environment, industry, labor and tourism.
Betty Jane Diener removed the term "plantation" from Virginia tourism brochures, arguing that recalled the state"s history of slavery prior to the American Civil War.
She also advocated for stronger environmental regulations and new coal mining safety guidelines. Following her tenure as Virginia Secretary of Commerce, Diener became both a provost and professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She then became a professor of management and analysis at the Andreas School of Business of Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, from 2002 to 2012.
Diener, a resident of Fort Lauderdale, died from pulmonary fibrosis at a health clinic in Weston, Florida, on January 23, 2015, at the age of 73.
Her husband, Robert Doctorate. Bell, died in 1993.
Member Citizens Council Chesapeake Bay, 1986—1987. Adviser Junior League, 1963—1964, Plans for Progress, 1968—1970, Leadership Metropolitan Richmond, 1980—1982. Member Massachusetts Governor's Advisory Committee Science and Technology, 1988—1990, Mayor's Task Force Empowerment Zones, 1994.
Member community working group Massachusetts Military Reservation, 1997—2000. President Provincetown (Massachusetts) Repertory Theater, 2002, board directors, 2001—2003. Commissioner Norfolk Industrial Development Authority, 1979—1982.
Board directors Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1979—1982, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, 1979—1982, Greater Norfolk Corporation, 1986—1987, Virginia Orchestra Group, 1982—1987, Virginia Stage Company, 1986—1987, Karamu House, 1975—1979, Woodruff Hospital, 1975—1979, Women's City Club Cleveland, 1976—1979, Council Sustainable Florida, 2003—2007, Bainbridge Graduate Institute, 2003—2005. Member advisory committee state and local government programs John F. Kennedy School Government, Harvard University, 1986—1988.
Married Robert Doctorate. Bell, 1987 (deceased.