Office of the Provost Staff
Dr. Denu joined the Provost's Office in 2022, having served as the vice president for educational programs for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, overseeing study abroad, advocacy and programming, interfaith work, leadership development, planning for academic conferences, specific grants, budgets and support services for chief academic officers.
She spent much of her career at Azusa Pacific University, most recently as vice president and chief diversity officer. She served as special advisor to the president and provost, vice provost for undergraduate programs/special assistant to the president, vice provost for faculty support and special assistant to the president, associate provost, faculty moderator and director of the senate, and a faculty member in the sociology department, advancing to the rank of full professor.
A two-time Fulbright scholar, she has conducted research projects in South Africa and Ethiopia, her husband’s native country. She has published in the areas of African-American issues, women and family matters, leadership, welfare reform and international relations. She speaks on these topics at various national and international forums and conferences. In addition to serving on local and national committees and boards, Kim has taught undergraduate and graduate students on five continents. As a professor and a scholar, she seeks to model a life of service outside the academy.
Dr. Denu earned a Doctor of Philosophy in sociology at the University of Florida, a Master of Social Work from Temple University, a Bachelor of Arts in sociology at Vanguard University and is an ordained minister.
Contact: kbwdenu@westmont.edu
Phone: (805) 565-6007
Dr. McQuade joined the Provost's Office in June of 2016 but has been a professor in the Biology department since 2004. She continues to teach in the classroom (Cell Biology and Genetics) and maintains a research program studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of autoimmune disease. She received her PhD in Immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago. She was a visiting professor for a one-year appointment at University of California at San Francisco for her last sabbatical in 2010-2011. Since returning, Dr. McQuade has worked closely with the Provost's Office, first as a department chair (2011-2015) and then as Vice Chair of the Faculty (2012-2013).
Contact: mcmahon@westmont.edu
Phone: (805) 565-6117
Leanne joined the Provost's Office in the fall of 2024. She is a seasoned academic administrator, with over a decade of experience in the classroom and in administrative leadership roles. She has served as program director, department chair, associate dean, and interim dean. As a professor, she has worked with students from a wide variety of countries as well as American students from diverse backgrounds. She has also lived and taught internationally and is fluent in Spanish and German and conversant in Catalan. She earned a PhD from the University of Georgia in Adult Education, as well as a DMin, a ThM, and a BA in German and English.
Contact: ldzubinski@westmont.edu
Phone: (805) 565-6009 (Provost's Office)
Phone: (805) 565-6248 (Global Education)
Dr. Nazarenko joined Westmont College in 2010 as Dean of Curriculum and Educational Effectiveness. She works with all curricular and co-curricular departments on their assessment and program review plans. Prior to coming to Westmont, she served as a faculty and administrator at research universities and junior colleges. She also brings to the position her experience in interdisciplinary teaching and research, global education and curriculum development gained at several educational institutions in the US and Canada. Dr. Nazarenko received her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Alberta (Canada) and her Ph.D. in English Philology from the National University of Kyiv. She holds masters’ degrees in Educational Leadership from the University of Washington and in English Studies and Education from the National University of Kyiv.
Contact: tnazarenko@westmont.edu
Phone: (805) 565-6070
Judy joined the Provost's Office staff in the fall of 2024. Prior to her arrival, she spent 15 years as Administrative Assistant to the Kinesiology Department, overlapping 10 years in the same role for the Psychology Department. Judy earned her B.A. in Psychology from Bethel College in Minnesota and attended Westmont for 2 semesters through the Consortium Program. Her experience as a student in Santa Barbara led her to move to the area, which has been home for her since 1982. Judy brings her administrative experience, institutional knowledge, and faculty and staff connections to her job to support the Provost in a variety of ways.
Contact: juwilliams@westmont.edu
Phone: (805) 565-6007
Marilyn joined the Provost's Office staff in the spring of 2021. A member of the Westmont community for many years, Marilyn has worked in multiple offices over the decades, including ten years assisting the faculty of the Biology department. A detail-oriented administrator, Marilyn tracks and processes financial transactions for the Provost's Office and handles the logistics for the many events the office hosts. Marilyn is a graduate of Westmont and the Renovaré Institute For Christian Spiritual Formation.
Contact: mjenks@westmont.edu
Phone: (805) 565-6008