Jody Dean's research has focused on ministry leadership specifically in the area of church administration, discipleship, and risk management. He is married to Emily and they have two children Lydia and James.
His recent research has focused on healthy church administration in the local church. He has continued to serve the local church for over twenty years in the areas of discipleship and administration. His ministerial experience has focused on age-graded ministry, discipleship, and church administration. He frequently teaches at conferences and training events in these areas in churches, regional training events, state conventions, and organizations for ministers in the local church.