Dr. Denise Kamyuka is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Sport Management in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Her interdisciplinary scholarship examines sport as a site of social change, citizenship, leadership, inclusion, and community development, with particular attention to the experiences of women, racialized communities, people with disabilities, and other historically marginalized groups.
Drawing on her background in sport management, sociology of sport, public health, and global health systems, Dr. Kamyuka’s research explores how sport can advance democratic engagement, economic justice, social entrepreneurship, and collective wellbeing. Her work is grounded in critical, decolonial, and intersectional approaches that seek to elevate community knowledge, challenge inequitable structures, and develop more inclusive sport systems. Much of her research focuses on understanding how individuals and communities navigate systems of power while using sport as a vehicle for empowerment, leadership development, and social transformation.
Dr. Kamyuka’s current research agenda spans several interconnected areas, including women’s leadership and citizenship in sport, adaptive and disability sport, social entrepreneurship in sport, youth development, esports and mental health, and athlete civic engagement. Her international scholarship has examined women’s social entrepreneurship in sport in Botswana, contributing new theoretical perspectives informed by African philosophies such as Botho and Ubuntu. She is also leading community-engaged research initiatives that explore how sport can strengthen civic participation, democratic agency, and economic opportunity among youth and athletes.
Before entering academia, Dr. Kamyuka worked in the pharmaceutical sector as a regulatory pharmacist and marketing manager, where she gained extensive experience in health systems, program management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. She has also worked extensively with nonprofit and community organizations in sport-for-development, athlete advocacy, mental health promotion, and social impact programming.
As a scholar, educator, and mentor, Dr. Kamyuka is committed to collaborative and community-centered research that bridges scholarship and practice. Her work aims not only to advance academic knowledge but also to inform policies, programs, and partnerships that create more equitable, accessible, and socially responsive sport environments.