Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu was named provost at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, effective August 1. Westmont College enrolls just over 1,200 students according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans make up 2 percent of the student body.
An ordained minister, Dr. Denu currently serves as interim director at the District Church in Washington, D.C. Previously, she was vice president for educational programs for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. From 1997 to 2018, she served on the faculty at Azusa Pacific University in California.
In the past year, Dr. Denu, who comes from four generations of pastors, considered entering full-time ministry. “But I felt God leading me to return to Christian higher education with my dual calling to work in the academy and with God’s people. Westmont is the perfect place for me to combine my calling and passion for the academy and scholarly rigor and my heart for God,” she said.
Dr. Denu is a graduate of Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California, where she majored in sociology. She holds a master of social work degree from Temple University in Philadelphia and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Florida.
Dorothy Campbell was appointed interim provost and chief academic officer at New Mexico State University. Dr. Campbell most recently served as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at Texas A&M University. Earlier, she served as interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Frostburg State University in Maryland.
“I am very excited about coming to New Mexico State University for so many reasons,” Dr. Campbell said. “I’m excited because it’s a Hispanic-serving institution, and I love what I’m seeing about that in the university’s strategic plan – the values and goals represented there – because those are near and dear to my heart. I not only work in diversity, that’s just who I am and the way that I live – it’s something to which I have dedicated my life.”
Dr. Campbell earned a bachelor’s degree in speech education from Southeast Missouri State University. She holds a master’s degree in speech communication from Central Missouri State University and a Ph.D. in education with an emphasis in speech from the Ohio State University.
