Biography: First Lady Dr. Renee Sartin Kirby, Ph.D.

Dr. Kirby grew up in the Christian home of her grandparents, the late Rev. Obie and Synovia Sartin, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After her marriage to Bishop Lawrence L. Kirby, they returned to Wisconsin when he accepted the call to lead the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.

Dr. Kirby currently serves as Director of Student Health, Counseling and Disability Services at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, earned a Master’s degree from Viterbo College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and returned to UW-Milwaukee to earn her Ph.D. in 2001.

During her tenure at St. Paul she has taught and facilitated classes through Sunday school, a local Minister’s Wives Auxiliary, Women’s Bible Class, Youth Groups, College Student Ministries, and other church organizations. She also has held memberships in numerous professional organizations, and the International Association of Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows, Inc. She served as Dean at the State level and Budget and Finance Chair at the International level.

She and her husband are the proud parents of two children Lawrence II (who is a Pastor and married to Chandrika Kirby) and Charisse, three grandchildren (Reggie (Kierra), Kennedy and Marley, and two great-grandchildren (Riley Jay and Seven). Dr. Kirby loves the Lord and supports her husband in his important work in the ministry.