Jane Overstreet to Receive Second Annual HDI Leadership Award

The Humanitarian Disaster Institute (HDI) will be awarding Jane Overstreet, president & CEO of Development Associates International, the second annual HDI Leadership Award for “exemplary leadership in the humanitarian field over the entirety of her career.” 

Jamie Aten, founder and executive director of HDI and Blanchard Chair of Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership at Wheaton College, and Kent Annan, director of Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership at Wheaton College, will present the award at the HDI Annual Lecture & Award Presentation on Wednesday, November 6th at Wheaton College. Overstreet will be honored in a special presentation before economist Bruce Wydick delivers the keynote lecture on “The Shrewd Samaritan: Faith, Economics, and the Road to Loving Our Global Neighbor.” 

"I think Jane is among the very best of Christian nonprofit leaders," Annan said. "She is known for her integrity, relationships (that span the globe), insight, vision, know-how, and humility. We wanted to recognize her contribution to humanitarian work, to Christian leadership, and to the global church—and hold her up as an example to our students."

Last year’s inaugural HDI Leadership Award was awarded to Richard Stearns, who retired last year as president of World Vision US after over 20 years with the organization. Over the course of his career, he exemplified our call in Micah 6:8 to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” Each year, this award will be given to a leader who has similarly demonstrated exemplary leadership throughout his or her career in the humanitarian or disaster relief field.

Overstreet is the President / CEO of Development Associates International (DAI) a non-profit organization providing training and consulting in leadership and organizational management to more than 46,000 Christian leaders in 82 countries annually. Prior to joining DAI, Overstreet served for many years as the Director of Legal Services for Youth With A Mission International while living in the Middle East and Europe. Overstreet has also provided legal consulting for numerous other Christian organizations. She is a member of the American Bar Association and the Colorado Bar Association. She serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations and was a professor at Eastern University.

Overstreet received a bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University, and a J.D. from the University of Tulsa, College of Law. She has done additional graduate studies in international law at European campus of the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and in Global Economic Development at Eastern College. Overstreet has been married for 39 years to Harold, who also works with Development Associates International. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

“I am surprised and humbled to be invited to receive the Humanitarian Disaster Institute Leadership Award," Overstreet said. "I hope and pray that I exemplify the biblical qualities for which it stands.”

The Humanitarian Disaster Institute is the first faith-based academic disaster research center in the country. Its mission is to help the church prepare and care for a disaster-filled world. HDI uses research to create resources and events geared toward students, survivors, helpers, and researchers. HDI also recently launched the M.A. in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership to prepare the next generation of humanitarian and disaster professionals to lead with faith and humility, utilize evidence-based practice, and serve the most vulnerable and the Church globally.