Deidra Emerson
Board of Advocates
Deidra Emerson began her career in Public Administration in 1995 serving the City of Fort Worth. In 2015 she became Waco's Assistant City Manager and in that role provided leadership for multiple departments, including Water Utilities, Public Works, Waco–McLennan County Public Library, General Services, Waco Convention Center and Visitor’s Bureau, Parks and Recreation and Waco Regional Airport. Her consistent record of success led to her promotion as Deputy City Manager. In this role, Deidra leads city efforts on equitable strategies, economic development and process improvement. She also oversees a diverse set of city services, including Development Services, Waco –McLennan County Health District, Waco Transit, Neighborhood Engagement, as well as manages the Prosper Waco Collective Impact Initiative and Creative Waco contracts.
Deidra is active in numerous professional and civic organizations. She is an alumna of Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and later went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas.