Diana Akiyama

Diana Dorothy Akiyama is the eleventh and current bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon. She was elected on August 29, 2020, in the first all-online election in the Episcopal Church. This was due to COVID-19. She was one of four candidates for the office.^[1] At the time of her election she was vicar of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in Kapaau, Hawaiʻi, and dean of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi's Waiolaihui'ia School for Formation. She was ordained to the priesthood in 1988 in the Diocese of Eastern Oregon. She is the first Japanese-American woman to become an Episcopal priest. She was consecrated on January 30, 2021, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland and is the first Asian-American woman to become an Episcopal bishop.^[2]

The Right Reverend Diana Akiyama
Bishop of Oregon
Church	Episcopal Church
Diocese	Oregon
Elected	August 29, 2020
Predecessor	Michael Joseph Hanley
Previous post(s)	Vicar, St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Kapaau, Hawaiʻi (2015–2020) Rector, Dean, Waiolaihui'ia School for Formation, Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi (2014–2020)
Orders
Ordination	1989 by Rustin R. Kimsey
Consecration	January 30, 2021 by Gretchen Rehberg
Personal details
Born	Wheeler, Oregon, US
Denomination	Anglican
Spouse	Michael L. Jackson
Alma mater	University of Oregon

She was raised in Hood River, Oregon, and graduated from the University of Oregon and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. She earned the Ph.D. in religion and social ethics from the University of Southern California in 2001. After ordination she served as associate dean of the chapel at Stanford University from 1988 until 1995.^[3][4] She is married to Michael L. Jackson,^[5] vice president for student affairs at the USC Rossier School of Education.

References

1. "Oregon chooses new bishop in first Zoom election". The Living Church. September 1, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
2. Millard, Egan (August 31, 2020). "Diana Akiyama elected 11th bishop of Oregon" (Press release). Episcopal News Service. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
3. "Dean of students, church associate dean to leave Stanford" (Press release). Stanford University News Service. November 18, 1994. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
4. "The Rev. Dr. Diana Akiyama, M.Div., Ph.D." (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2021.
5. Hallman, Tom Jr. (September 16, 2020). "Oregon's new Episcopal bishop follows journey of faith to a historic first for church in U.S." oregonlive. Portland Oregonian. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.