Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu is an American scholar-leader who is a full professor of sociology and social work. She served as a vice president, chief diversity officer, vice provost of undergraduate programs, and a special advisor to the president and provost at Azusa Pacific University. She also writes on such topics as race and ethnic relations, marriage and family, singleness, urban sociology, social work, and religion.
Background
Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu was born in 1967, in Los Angeles, California, United States. She is the daughter of Randall and Janet Walters. Battle-Walters Denu said: "I have been writing since I was a little girl. I would give my handwritten books to my parents and they would always encourage me even when it wasn’t good."
Education
Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu studied sociology. In 1989, she received a Bachelor's degree from Vanguard University of Southern California (1989), a Master of Social Work from Temple University (1991), and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Florida (1997).
Career
Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu worked at Azusa Pacific University as Professor of Social Work (1997 - 2008), Vice Provost for Faculty Support (2009 - 2011), Vice Provost for Undergraduate Programs (2011 - 2012), Special Advisor to the President and Provost (2013 - 2015), Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer (2015 - 2018). In 2018, she worked as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Gondar in Ethiopia. In 2019, Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu became a Vice President for Educational Programs at The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.
Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu also served as an Ordained Minister in the United Church of the Living God, Los Angeles. She had international missions work in Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, and South, Central, and North America.
Her writing interest areas are issues regarding race and ethnic relations, marriage and family, singleness, urban sociology, social work, and religious issues. Battle-Walters Denu was a contributor to Family Relations Journal and Journal of Marriage and the Family and to African-American Encyclopedia Supplement (1997). She wrote the book "Sheila’s Shop: Working-Class African American Women Talk about Life, Love, Race, and Hair" (2004) and, together with her mother, the book " Mothers Are Leaders" (2014).
Religion
Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu said: "I am inspired to write because of my faith in God." She was an Ordained Minister in the United Church of the Living God.
Views
Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu about the value of faith-based experiential education experiences for undergraduate students: "I think that experiential education is one of the best educations a Christian college student can get. The opportunity for students to step outside of the familiar; to see and understand from another perspective; to put theory into practice; to engage in active research in the field; and to witness their faith in action in the larger global community is impactful and life changing personally, academically, and spiritually. Faith-based experiential education helps students transfer their focus from themselves to others."
Personality
Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu said: "Anyone who knows me knows that I love to travel - especially internationally! My grandfather loved nature and taking trips to explore God’s creation. I believe I inherited his love for "seeing" the world and strongly believe that if God "so loved the world," then I need to love the people in it and to see it, too."