Prof Mwenda Ntarangwi Leads USIU as First Kenyan VC
Professor Mwenda Ntarangwi has been appointed as the new vice chancellor of the United States International University-Africa (USIU-A), making him the first Kenyan to lead the institution.
The university announced on Thursday, following the unexpected resignation of Professor Margee Ensign in August last year due to health reasons.
Professor Ntarangwi will take office on July 1, 2024, overseeing one of Kenya’s largest private universities.
Since September, Dr. Lola Odubekun has been acting as interim vice chancellor while the search for a permanent replacement was underway. USIU-A has experienced several leadership changes recently.
Professor Ensign succeeded Professor Freida Brown, who returned from retirement in August 2021 to temporarily lead the university after Professor Paul Tiyambe Zeleza’s departure.
Professor Brown held the position on an interim basis during the search for a new vice-chancellor.
Before this appointment, Professor Ntarangwi served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission for University Education (CUE), transforming the organization from a regulatory body to one focused on progressive partnerships with universities and clear quality assurance standards.
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Since 2022, he has been Deputy Principal-Academics, Research, and Student Affairs at NIRUC, a constituent college of the National Defence University – Kenya.
Kris Senanu, the chair of the university council, noted that Professor Ntarangwi is drawn to USIU-A’s mission to prepare the next generation of effective, engaged, and ethical leaders for the rapidly changing African and global environments. He brings extensive experience in international academic writing, teaching, and research, with numerous publications and involvement in organizing conferences and workshops worldwide.
The university’s circular highlighted Professor Ntarangwi’s success in transforming CUE into an institution focused on collaboration and quality assurance. His experience in university accreditation will support USIU-Africa’s dual accreditation, enhancing the quality of education.
The new vice chancellor is an expert in cultural anthropology and has experience working in higher education in both Africa and the US, through teaching, research, fundraising, and leadership roles.
Prof Mwenda Ntarangwi Leads USIU as First Kenyan VC
