The Rev. Michael A. Battle to be Key Member of Obama Administration
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The Rev. Michael A. Battle '73 |
HARTFORD, Conn. – The Rev. Michael A. Battle ’73, president of the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), has been confirmed by the United States Senate as U.S. representative to the African Union. The post carries the rank of ambassador. Rev. Battle will be sworn in Friday, August 21 in Washington, D.C.
The African Union, which represents the interests of 53 African nations, is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Rev. Battle is leaving his position with the Atlanta-based ITC after serving a six-year term.
“This is a well deserved honor for our president and a very proud moment for the ITC family,” said Joseph L. Crawford Sr., president of the ITC Board of Trustees. “President Battle has taken the ITC to a higher level in our expectations of excellence at every juncture of its operations, its imaging, and its academic growth. Certainly, he is equipped for this awesome experience.”
The ITC Board will appoint an interim president, effective September 1.
Rev. Battle has been an administrator at several higher education institutions, including Chicago State University, Virginia State University and Hampton University. At Hampton, he served as pastor to The Hampton University Memorial Church and as executive secretary/treasurer of the Hampton University Ministers Conference, the nation’s largest interdenominational conference of African American clergy.
As a chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserves for 20 years, Rev. Battle retired with military honors and the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1997.
He served as vice president of the American Committee on Africa from 1994 to 1998. Rev. Battle was an election observer during the first South African free elections in 1994, and also served as a liaison between the Hampton University Ministers Conference and The South African Council of Churches. He was chair of The Robert W. Woodruff Library of The Atlanta University Center, and a member of the UNCF Institutional Board of Directors, the Atlanta Rotary Club, 100 Black Men of Atlanta and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Congressional Forum Steering Committee. Rev. Battle holds a B.A. from Trinity, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Howard University.
A capable and visionary administrator, the ambassador-to-be leaves a rich legacy of achievement at the ITC. Rev. Battle has led the institution in the development of a 10-Year Strategic Plan and has overseen major renovations and upgrades across the campus. He has expanded the ITC’s academic program to offer a graduate degree via a Distance Learning-Online module, and created partnerships with theological, civic, and corporate communities.
“My tenure at [the] ITC has been an exceptionally fulfilling one,” said Rev. Battle. “The uniqueness of this institution with several different denominations and layers of administration ironically has been good preparation for what I will encounter on a grander scale with the participating nations in the African Union.”