The Rt. Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce has joined Seminary of the Southwest as Interim Dean and President, bringing with her decades of experience in parish ministry, diocesan leadership, and collaborative institutional life. In the conversation below, Bishop Bruce shares what excites her about Southwest, how her varied vocational path has shaped her approach to leadership, and what gives her hope for the future.
What drew you to Seminary of the Southwest in particular, and what excites you most about serving the community during this season of growth?
I have long admired the forward-thinking direction the Seminary of the Southwest has taken. From the Iona Collaborative to the Mental Health Counseling Program; from the MDiv, MAR, and MSD degrees to the Latinx and chaplaincy concentrations, these offerings reflect a holistic approach to formation that meets the needs of both the church and the world today.
What parts of your personal and professional background have most shaped who you are today and the way you approach leadership?
Having served as a banker for 17 years, a curate in a downtown county seat, a rector of a bilingual parish in a beach community, a bishop overseeing multicultural ministry and stewardship, and a provisional bishop in the heart of the country, I have learned that the most important work any leader can do is to build strong professional relationships. For me, leadership is rooted in listening and collaboration to ensure the success of the organization as a whole. Listening allows leaders to think holistically and to guide an institution not by personal will alone, but by the insight and wisdom of those who carry out the work day by day.
What are you most looking forward to experiencing in Austin, both on campus and in the wider city?
Since my son completed his MA and PhD at the University of Texas, I am already familiar with much of Austin. I have visited this seminary many times, which is part of why I have grown to love it so deeply. I enjoy exploring not only the seminary’s immediate surroundings, but the city of Austin and the region beyond. Over time, I have compiled a list of “must-see” places and restaurants, drawing recommendations from friends and sources like Atlas Obscura. I look forward to spending weekends exploring and checking items off that list, in part as a way to better understand the environment in which the seminary is planted.
As you step into this role, what do you see as the seminary’s greatest strengths—and where do you sense opportunities for growth or renewal?
This seminary has a long, strong history of enriching the world with people prepared to preach, teach, counsel, care for, and change the world. The faculty and staff excel at their work, and those who come here to study in any of the disciplines offered or who participate locally in the work of the Iona Collaborative, are enriched by the experience which helps make wherever they land in the ministry or work a much better place. In terms of growth or renewal, I will always advocate for diversity and reconciliation – meaning that expanding and enhancing the opportunities to look deeply at our shared history, tell the truth about all that has happened around us, and work towards healing is paramount. I am grateful that this Seminary is long down this road. Is there more that can be done? Of course there is. This is complex work. I am grateful to the openness to do this work here.
What gives you hope right now—for theological and counselor education, for the Church, and for the future of Seminary of the Southwest?
I believe the Seminary of the Southwest is a beacon of light and hope for the Episcopal Church—a community marked by respect, hospitality, and mutuality. The seminary honors, integrates, and lives out a wide range of essential disciplines through a shared life of conversation and collaboration, all of which are vital to the life of the church and the needs of the world today. To lose any part of these multifaceted programs would diminish the seminary’s ability to serve both the church and the wider world. My heart is full of joy every time I talk to a student or a member of the faculty or staff – what incredibly gifted people!
