Rose Mwonya: Professor of home economics

Professor Rose Mwonya is on course to becoming the fifth vice chancellor of Egerton University and the institution's first ever female vice chancellor when she officially takes over the reins from Prof James Tuitoek next week.

Today's Sunday Nation (10 January 2016) contains a feature on Prof Mwonya's academic journey and her rise to the top.

Below is an excerpt of the article by Elvis Ondieki.

Prof Mwonya spent her formative years at Ndenga Primary School in Siaya County where she studied up to Standard Four before her father took her to Asumbi Girls Boarding School in Homa Bay County. From there she joined Nyabururu Girls in Kisii and later enrolled at the Embu Institute of Agriculture.

Afterwards, she worked under the Agriculture ministry before she applied to the government to secure her an admission to pursue a diploma at Egerton University, then under the University of Nairobi.

She finished her three-year-course in Agriculture and Home Economics in 1975 then was later posted to Kakamega district as a District Home Economics Officer. She worked in that position shortly before going to Bukura Institute of Agriculture in the then Western province as a lecturer to fulfil her dreams.

Later, she received a scholarship from the United States Agency for International Development to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture at the Iowa State University which she completed in one and a half years. 

She also pursued an MSc and PhD in Home Economics Education at the same institution until 1984. Prof Mwonya majored in home economics, a discipline that incorporates child development and adult education among other aspects.

Read the full article, Rose Mwonya: My rise from village girl to vice-chancellor

Congratulations to Prof Rose Mwonya on her appointment as Vice Chancellor! 

University of Nairobi appoints Prof Lucy Irungu Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Congratulations are in order to Prof Lucy Irungu who has been appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Production and Extension) of the University of Nairobi. Her appointment takes effect from 1 March 2011.

Prof Irungu's new appointment was announced in a press release from the University of Nairobi which appeared on page 21 of The Standard of Friday 21 January 2011.

According to the press release, Prof Irungu's duties as DVC in charge of Research, Production and Extension include: planning, organizing and managing research infrastructure development and appropriate policy planning; coordinating administrative and logistical support for research at all levels; coordinating the sourcing of libraries and archives. Other duties include research branding, quality control and capacity building.

Prof Irungu is the current principal of the College of Biological and Physical Sciences at Chiromo Campus. With her new appointment, she now becomes the second female professor in the history of the University of Nairobi to hold the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor after Prof Florida Karani who was the DVC in charge of Academic Affairs for 10 years.

Check out Prof Irungu's profile here.

Kudos, Prof Irungu! More grease to your elbow!

Florida Karani - Chancellor of Maseno University

On 17 December 2008, President Kibaki appointed Prof Florida Amakobe Karani the Chancellor of Maseno University during the institution’s eighth graduation ceremony. With this appointment, Prof Karani makes history as Kenya's first ever female Chancellor of a public university.

Prior to her new appointment, Prof Karani was the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs at the University of Nairobi, a position she held from May 1994 to June 2004.

Prof Florida Karani has a long-standing academic career in the University of Nairobi. She started out as a lecturer in 1969 and over the years rose through the ranks to attain the position of associate professor of educational communications and technology in 1988. She later went on to become a full professor of education in 1996.

Prof Karani has also held senior administrative positions at the University of Nairobi's College of Education and External Studies. She was the College Principal from 1988 to 1994 before being appointed DVC Academic Affairs. Additionally, in 1988 she became the founding Dean of the Faculty of External Studies.

Florida Karani is an accomplished author and presenter with several peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations to her name. On the international arena, she has been involved in training of trainers for the UN Economic Commission for Africa and UNICEF. In 2002 she was appointed a member of the Africa Regional Scientific Committee of the UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge.

Closer home, Prof Karani has held membership positions in the Inter University Council of East Africa and Kenya's Commission for Higher Education. In 1994 she received the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW) presidential award in recognition of her contribution towards improving the quality of higher education in Kenya.