A Life of Purpose, Impact, and Heart
Delceno Miles (SCA, ’14)
For this visionary communicator and servant leader, the marketplace is her pulpit.
When Regent University celebrates alumni who embody its mission of Christian leadership to change the world, few names shine as brightly as Delceno C. Miles (SCA, ’14). As President & CEO of The Miles Agency, Delceno leads a highly respected Virginia Beach based public-relations and marketing firm she founded in 1989.
With more than 35 years of accomplishment across business, political campaigns, community leadership, and public service, Delceno is widely recognized as one of the most influential communicators in Hampton Roads. In 2025, she received one of the region’s highest civic honors: First Citizen of Virginia Beach.
“Some people chase titles,” Regent University Chancellor Gordon Robertson said recently of his longtime friend. “Delceno Miles chose something deeper: a life of purpose, impact, and heart. She’s a bridge between people, a spark in every room, and a relentless advocate for the voiceless. Delceno, you’re a visionary, a servant leader, and I’m humbled and honored to call you my friend.”
A Lifelong Learner and Influencer
A native of Virginia Beach and a graduate of Cox High School, Delceno earned her B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University. After launching The Miles Agency and establishing herself as a trusted strategist for businesses, nonprofits, public institutions, and elected leaders, she made a bold decision more than two decades into her career: she returned to school.
“The motivation was to make sure that I’m continuing to learn and to hone my craft, because learning doesn’t stop,” she explains. Regent’s one-year master’s program in communication provided exactly what she was seeking. “They offered the curriculum I was looking for, and more importantly, I could do it in a year — that was very appealing. And so that’s what I did.”
In 2014, Delceno completed her Master of Arts in Communication — in just one year — while running a full-time marketing and public-relations agency.
Her Regent experience was primarily online, but rich with meaningful connections. Delceno met professors who she describes as “just phenomenal — very good encouragers,” especially then-Dean Dr. Mitch Land. She engaged with classmates nationwide, some from as far away as Dubai. “I got a chance to expand my network as part of the Regent family.”
The skills she gained are still integral to her work today. “A lot of the tools that I was taught at Regent are being applied, in a very practical way, as I grow and sustain my business now going into my 37th year,” she says.
Teacher, Mentor, and Marketplace Minister
Soon after graduating, Delceno was invited to return to Regent — this time as an adjunct professor. “I taught graduate-level public relations for seven years,” she says. “It was an amazing opportunity to continue to serve and to grow.”
Her approach both in the classroom and the marketplace is rooted in her faith. “Being a servant leader means I wash your feet,” she says. “It means I’m setting the example of how to serve. Whether the custodian or the CEO, I treat them the same because they’re individuals. They’re God’s creations.”
The Miles Agency isn’t just a business — it’s her ministry. “My pulpit is the marketplace,” Delceno insists. “That’s my platform.”
A Legacy of Civic Leadership
Beyond her professional achievements, Delceno has made a lasting impact on her community. She has served on influential regional boards including the Hampton Roads Chamber, Virginia Beach Vision, and the Hampton Roads Workforce Council. She was elected to the Virginia Beach School Board, serving as Vice Chair, and has received multiple leadership and public service awards — most notably the recent recognition as First Citizen of Virginia Beach, an annual lifetime achievement award from the Virginia Beach Jaycees honoring exceptional community service and leadership.
Her commitment to people is personal and intentional. Delceno is known for regularly inviting colleagues, students, and young professionals to coffee or lunch simply to hear their stories. “I’m not running for office — I’m just here to get to know you better,” she shares. “Jesus did that all the time. He didn’t care who you were.”
Why She Gives Back — and Why She Wants Others to Join Her
Today, Delceno not only champions Regent as an alumna and former adjunct faculty member. She’s also a donor who generously supports the university financially.
“It’s an investment that will always pay dividends,” she says. “We’re building up our treasures in heaven by investing in the things that are built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. And certainly Regent is among those foundations.”
She believes even the smallest gift matters. “It’s not the amount,” Delceno explains. “The fact that they have a heart to give is a blessing. God looks at your heart.”
Supporting Regent, she says, means empowering students who might not otherwise have access to Christian higher education. “You’re serving those emerging leaders. You’re investing in those students and their futures and equipping them.”
Prepared and Equipped to Lead
When asked for her “elevator pitch” about Regent, Delceno doesn’t hesitate: “Regent is about preparing and equipping leaders with Christian principles.”
She is living proof. A visionary communicator, servant leader, and relentless advocate for others, Delceno Miles represents the very best of what Regent University exists to cultivate. She is a Christian leader who is truly changing the world — one servant-hearted act at a time.