Professor Maria Nzomo holds the distinction of being the first Kenyan woman to attain a PhD in political science, which she earned in 1981 from Dalhousie University in Canada.
She has over 30 years of teaching experience at the University of Nairobi, starting out as a Tutorial Fellow in 1979 and rising up the ranks to become an associate professor of political economy and international studies in 1995.
Well known locally and abroad as an astute professor of political science and international studies, Prof Nzomo has also established herself as a national ambassador of repute.
Between October 2003 and January 2009, she held a number of ambassadorial posts in southern Africa (Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe) and at the United Nations.
In 2006, she was appointed the Kenyan ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, a position she holds to date.
Maria Nzomo is also well known as an ardent promoter of gender and human rights and has published several articles on these subjects in peer-reviewed journals as well as newspapers and magazines.
Last week's Sunday on Standard profiled Prof Maria Nzomo in an article titled, "I'm a committed believer in equality and justice" by Hellen Miseda. Read the article here.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Prof Judi Wakhungu nominated to global climate change advisory body
Congratulations to Prof Judi Wakhungu on her nomination to the global Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change.
Below is an excerpt from an article on Page 6 of the Business Daily of Monday 14 March 2011.
Source: "Kenyan picked as climate change adviser" by Steve Mbogo. Business Daily, 14 March 2011.
Below is an excerpt from an article on Page 6 of the Business Daily of Monday 14 March 2011.
A Kenyan scientist, Judi Wakhungu, has been nominated to advise world leaders on how to tackle global climate change and food scarcity.
Prof Wakhungu is the current executive director of the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), an international inter-governmental science, technology and environmental policy think-tank based in Nairobi.
She will sit on the global Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change.
Prof Wakhungu's research interests include agriculture and food security, biodiversity and natural resources, and gender issues in science and technology.
She serves on several national and international boards, task forces, and committees including the African Conservation Centre, the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), the GoDown Arts Centre, the Institute for Security Studies, the Lemelson Foundation, the Legatum Centre at MIT, the WorldFish Centre and the World Bioenergy Association.
She holds a PhD in energy resources management from Penn State University.
The United Kingdom's Chief Scientific Advisor, Prof Sir John Beddington will chair the Commission.
Source: "Kenyan picked as climate change adviser" by Steve Mbogo. Business Daily, 14 March 2011.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Happy International Women's Day 2011
As this blog pays tribute to Kenyan women who have made great achievements in various academic fields, today should be a reminder that the work is not yet complete and we need to continue to ensure that girls and boys, women and men, have access to equal opportunities to fully exploit their academic and intellectual potential.
Wanawake hoyee!