Dean grew up in Morristown, TN and committed his life to Christ as a young boy. He attended the University of Tennessee where he studied nuclear engineering. He met his future wife, Dena (also a nuclear engineer), while working at TVA.
While working as a risk assessor in the nuclear power industry, Dean was called with Dena to Minnesota where they led the music of a church for three years. They moved back to Tennessee in 2018 before joining the church plant team for Emmanuel in 2022. Dean also leads one of Emmanuel’s several small groups (Men’s Bible Study).
Dean and Dena have 3 girls, Sybil, Olivia, and Ella. When they are not leading music at Emmanuel, they enjoy raising chickens, cooking, and tending to Dena’s small businesses (photography and baking).
