USIU-Africa Alumni Association Magazine

United States International University Summer 2014

MAMA AFRICA Alumni Magazine

UNMASKING

Table of Content

Contents 6 10 12

16

The Unmasking

Beginning of a new chapter for USIU - Africa.

The Journey

Balance between family life, work & school.

Mama Africa

Torn down from her 35 years post and away from the admiring eyes.

Game On

Glorious moments during for Vijana as they defeated the Wazee.

Editor In-Chief

EVOLUTION of USIU - AFRICA ALUMNI

USIU is an institution that carries with it a collage of accomplishments. It being a premier institution of academic excellence is not an astonishment that it now looks to reach alumni in a manner that will leave continuing students yearning to be part of this new experience.

The aim being to network individuals both within and without the institute so as to achieve superior heights for alumni alma mater and the world.

Considering the lyrics of our alma mater, it is only innate to give back to an institution that has given us more than we could have asked for. If we could sing along then we are assured of not only upholding

the name of USIU-A, but also remembering the very words that amalgamated us in one tone one too many times.

There are new horizons the institution has attained such as the unmasking of the new USIU logo to USIU-A. Finer details of this memorable event is on page 6.

Find out how Ruth Mwai has gained a holistic experience in USIU- A and is ready to scale the heights on page 10.

Moving on to page 12, a symbol of what USIU has become is represented by the strength and love that was put into the creation of Mama Africa. A piece that has silently withstood the test of time and even though it is down it will never be out.

We must all remember USIU- A Alumni in all feasible manner is the bridge that connects us all after our time has come and gone.

Let us join and contribute through our individual strenghts to the future of USIU-A.

I stand in pride as I join the Alumni Force.

Georgette Adrianne Wamboi Editor In Chief

Editorial Team Head of Alumni Affairs - Uvyu Mbole

Layout Editor - Safi Godana

Editor In-Chief - Georgette Adrianne Wamboi

Writer - Alex Roberts

Cover editor - Solomon Naviswa Mutama A USIU - AFRICA Production

Vice Chancellor

Photo by Dan Muchai

Broadening USIU-A

Prof. Freida Brown

She’s been a guiding force over the last twenty years, taking United States International University from a small private U.S. satellite universities to one of the largest, well respected and successful Universities in all of Africa. Prof. Brown is hoping that the re-vamping of the Alumni association will take us forward to new levels of excellence, especially as USIU itself goes through some radical changes of its own.

In addition to overseeing the new Alumni Association and USIU’s recent re-branding, Prof. Brown is coordinating the University at a rapid rate of expansion.

A new school of sciences is currently under construction, and a new student center is in the planning.

However, it’s not just about the construction of new academic programs that is important to Prof. Brown, it’s the

nature of education that will take place in the United States International University in the future.

She is pushing for USIU to become a more research based institution in coming years, a University capable of publishing its own works and rivaling the academic prowess of Western Universities. Prof. Brown hopes that Alumni of USIU will help to achieve the lofty goals of USIU.

She firmly believes that USIU alumni can take on a greater role in the future of the University, not just in a social event capacity.

Apart from that she is pushing for a mentorship program for Alumni who wish to come back and make a difference.

The expertise of the Alumni will become invaluable in the upcoming years as USIU changes, shifts and expands.

She, and many others of the administration at USIU firmly believe that a strong Alumni Association is the key to making this University a bastion of top-level education in the years to come.

This process of expansion and improvement will lend credibility to the newly implented Alumni Association in the foreseeable future.

With Deputy Vice Chancellor Freida Brown at the helm, the possibilities for United States International University look brighter.

“Re-vamping of the Alumni association will take us forward to new levels of excellence.”

Story by Alex Roberts

DVC Institutional Planning and Advancement

Photo by: Image works production

The Man with the Plan

Dr. Willie Butler

Since his arrival in Kenya five years ago he has been making moves to bring this University to a higher level of quality. He believes implementing the new Alumni Association in an effective manner can help USIU - Africa achieve a standard that is at par with many of the world’s top Universities.

Having come from the United States, Mr. Butler has experienced firsthand just how effective a strong alumni Association can be, not only with helping to raise the profile on fundraising, but also helping to raise a school’s profile towards becoming a multifaceted institution of higher learning.

This is one of the chief goals USIU is currently undertaking. The University has reached out to the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, and

hope to gain his endorsement on the proposed Barack Obama Institute for Peace and Democracy Studies, that will be located here in Nairobi.

He believes that Alumni of USIU could play a crucial role in helping to gain such an endorsement and making the proposed center a beacon of International education and cooperation within East Africa for years to come.

“The University has reached out to the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama.”

Story by Alex Roberts

Unmasking

Photos by Dan Muchai

Behold the new USIU -Africa!

Dr. Manu Chandaria and Prof. Freida Brown marvelling the crowd during the unmasking.

Courtesy.

By Safi Godana

On Thursday May 15 2014, United States International University hosted a one of its kind event that marked 45 years of its existence and a new dawn. USIU fraternity including alumni and members of the Board of Trustees paused for a moment to celebrate the university’s past endeavors, this was followed by the unveiling of the university’s future, including the new logo and official incorporation of the name AFRICA to its name. Anticipation loomed in the air as people got eager and curious to finally see the new logo.

When the most awaited moment

Prof. Brown with Mr. Kiprono Kittony during the rebranding of USIU-Africa

came, everybody had to reveal their faces by removing their masks. That marked the beginning of a new chapter for USIU-Africa.

In attendance was our very own chancellor Dr. Manu Chandaria, whose contribution to this university, gave birth to Chandaria School of Business.

He was overwhelmed with joy as was seen in his dancing. Ours truly the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Freida Brown, the chief of everything, was present in full swing.

The chief guest was Mr. Kiprono Kittony (Global Executive MBA ’12) – Chairman of the Board, Radio Africa Group.

For over 45years, USIU has contributed enormously to what we call unity in diversity. It has 67 nationalities.

Students during the Spring 2014 culture week

This is one of the university’s key strength that attracts prospective students as they get to interact and appreciate as well as showcase their unique, different cultures and languages.

The school has set aside a week famously known as culture week, where every culture gets a chance to perform and display their cultural attires and delicacies. This normally involves very stiff competition and the best culture wins the coveted trophy.

Head of Alumni Affairs

Photo by: Image works production

Inevitable Change

Mr. Mbole for one believes that the core of this is to get the Alumni involved in a way that is meaningful to them. This doesn’t mean simply writing a cheque and forgetting it the moment it’s mailed, but to really participate and help the current students achieve their degrees.

Not only this but Mr. Mbole wants to see Alumni helping to guide and mentor current students towards achieving their career ambitions.

First things first, the Alumni have to be reached. The process of Mr. Uvyu Mbole reaching them is proving to be among

His energy seems incessant, a the most difficult tasks facing the Alumni man on a mission. Even as we sit for his interview he seems ready for another Association of USIU, and measures are being undertaken to have working problem to come running past his door, contacts for all alumni. Simply reaching only for him to sprint after it. It’s been a hugely important several months for him, people is often times the most important step. and for the Alumni Association which is Apart from reaching them, Mr. currently undertaking a huge re-vamping Mbole and the Alumni Association are and change of tact. currently examining means of getting

As always when such change them involved. This involves attending happens, it isn’t easy, issues arise and future events, helping with USIU’s new crises rise up from unforeseen places; short courses program and even guest and as always these crises seem to fall on the shoulder’s and in this case it’s on lecturing. This last possibility is the most exciting as the graduates of United Mr. Mbole. However it seems that his States International University frequently nervous energy fades away the instant his phone rings and he at once becomes find success at the highest level’s within Kenya and abroad. a man full of gregarious humor and

As always, there will be one man focus.

Another problem averted and we’re running constantly behind the scenes to help this transition, it’s a massive back, and on track for what the real purpose of all his meetings and constant undertaking to be sure, but Mr. Mbole and the Alumni Association have just running is; this of course is the new the drive to help make this new Alumni Alumni Association. What Uvyu wants, Association a massive success. and what all of USIU strives to achieve, is to have an active group of Alumnus who truly want to aid their school, and Story by Alex Roberts who don’t just participate with arbitrary appearances at re-union dinners.

Chairman Alumni Transition Committee

Photo by: Image works production

Spearheading USIU Africa Alumni

Mr. George Rutto

Himself an alumni of USIU, he’s played an active role in the refurbishing of the program; particularly in the Alumni Association’s shift in goals over the last two years.

Mr. Rutto is hoping to increase the profile of USIU and further the university’s standing through our currently under-utilized Alumni.

He is behind a lot of the new policies and initiatives that hope to move the USIU alumni association forward in the upcoming years. He says he is hoping for a higher rate of visibility and a greater presence within the social media arena in order to better achieve these lofty goals that USIU has set for their alumni.

Can we get to the level of major Western Universities?

Mr. Rutto believes we are well on our way to becoming a new bastion of Ivy League quality education for the

African market.

Having active alumni can be a key to this process. Mr. Rutto is helping to start key programs, events and organizational shifts for the USIU alumni program over the next several months.

Among these is the new alumni magazine, a first-of-its-kind homecoming event this fall and a series of public events in the summer. Among these was the just concluded digital boot camp, which helped bolster USIU’s current under-whelming number of active alumni, and a sports day, where alumni came back to USIU territory to prove their current worth through sheer athleticism and mildly good humored sportsmanship.

Overall, Mr. George Rutto hopes such initiatives will help spark a new interest from those USIU alumni who have gone on to do great things.

Story by Alex Roberts

Photos by Dan Muchai

Donations towards Alumni

Presentation of Alumni endowment fund cheque

Presentation of Alumni endowment fund cheque

Presentation of Alumni Basketball fund

George Rutto’s contribution to the Alumni Association

Assistant to the Dean

Courtesy of google

My journey in USIU-Africa

Mrs. Ruth Mwai

There are few people in this, or any University who can credit both their careers and their education to the same institution. Assistant to the Dean school of science and technology, Ruth Mwai is one of them. She has traversed her way up the precarious ladder of education at United States International University to the extent that she is now pursuing her PhD. As such, She is in a rare position to give insight into the true value and current status of USIU’s alumni association.

As an undergraduate student, Mrs. Mwai was fortunate to have a group of students around her that encouraged success, each pushing one another further and towards greater academic achievement. This is an element to university life she believes has regressed in recent years, a trend she hopes will end. This drive to excel from herself and her peers led her to achieve high grades and positioning her towards looking at further levels of education after her graduation. She was soon accepted to the USIU Masters program, and gained employment in the University’s administrative staff.

During her time studying for masters she started a family, and gives working at USIU a lot of credit for balancing a stressful time in life.

“This is absolutely the best place to work and study at the same time,” she emphasized “To balance family life, work and schooling.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Ruth Mwai simply gets what being an Alumni of USIU means; after all it has become her life in a much more prominent role than that of nearly any other USIUAfrica graduate. To that end, she is greatly excited by the possibilities that revamping the alumni association has to offer.

The increased size and degree offerings of the university are going to expand the need for an impactful alumni association at a near exponential rate. As this will make the university larger and make it easier for students to get lost within, there are important steps that Ms. Mwai believes USIU can take to ensure its alumni association aids the current students.

Perhaps most importantly is a mentorship program that is currently being outlined to get graduates to volunteer to return and guide the students currently wading through the difficulties of higher education. As is typical of Assistant to the Dean Ruth Mwai, she won’t sit on the sidelines when it comes to USIU policy, she’s ready to volunteer with the mentorship program as well, believing it can aid her as her friends and colleagues did when she was new to the University.

Too often, she fears alumni are simply gone the second they have their qualifications in hand.

As always, and as she uses her own story as an example, the future is bright for USIU-Africa, and looking ever brighter, but it’ll need the full strength and unity of our esteemed alumni to propel the university to its true academic potential.

Story by Alex Roberts

Alumni Association Chairman

Photo by: Image works production

The power of relations

Mr. Jacob Ogola

He has ideas of how to make the Alumni Association better integrated and more influential to the institution.

Like others in the administration at USIU-A, Mr. Ogola believes that the Alumni Association could not only become an important piece towards helping the University build a strong foundation for the future, but could also help to develop Kenya and the East African region.

The first key is to build a better alignment between the Alumni Association and the objectives of USIU-A, a process that is currently being undertaken within USIU-A. This will help the administration

gain a more strategic platform for expanding and improving USIU-A in the years to come.

One of the main objectives that USIU-A is currently pursuing is to become one of the premier research institutions within Africa, and the addition of a unique Doctoral programs will help add to this goal.

Mr. Ogola foresees a rapid shift of improvement through the changes being made to the USIU Alumni Association and hopes that the expansion of the University helps development in the region through quality education and investment opportunity.

Story by Alex Roberts

Mama Africa

We all remember it. That tall and proud statue gracing the courtyard behind the administration building. We so often walked past without a glance, not appreciating this behemoth of the USIU culture.

People drank coffee under umbrella covered tables near its base, mundane gossip taking place of admiration for the solemn wooden carving.

Simply put the statue is history, our history, USIU history. It’s the most memorable piece of art of our entire campus. It has been since 1978, when it was donated graciously by a respected carver of wooden sculpture.

Mama Africa depicts Kamba fables of growth and prosperous events, a true parallel tale of the students she was donated to.

As the underappreciated things of this world often go, Mama Africa fell into decay and eventually to ruin. Now people sit at its base without wondering why the exquisite art that gave the space character has vanished, chopped down like the tree it was once formed

from.

Now she sits, her pride sullied, behind the cafeteria tipped on her side.

She lies down forgotten next to trash barrels and spare parts, another relic of junk, soon to be a tripping hazard.

Is this truly the fate that this remarkable wooden landmark deserves?

If United States International University truly wants to move forward, truly wishes for its Alumni to come back into the fold of educational progress, then how can their history sit in such destitution?

However, at first sign of weakness, and first hint of a termite, she was torn down from her 35 year post and away from the admiring eyes of all who, worked, lived, learned and taught within our University’s gates.

If one took the time to simply look, to give amount pried away from smart phones and stressful exam weeks, they would notice the attention to detail, all the subtle curves and edges, the stories unfolding within the wood. It is a story that should be admired by all who have the privilege of attending our proud university. Mama Africa is a part of pride, a constant, an unchanging variable something that we always come back to and know that we’re at home.

If USIU is our home, then so is Mama Africa, and she should be the head of the household again.

Photo by Safi Godana

Photo by Safi Godana

Mama Africa Where Art Thou?

Events

Photos by Dan Muchai

Career Fair Week Summer 2014

Chairperson Alumni Membership Committee

Reaching Out to Alumni

engage in the association’s initiatives and in the University’s growth.

Photo by: Image works production

Ms Sagwe, working with the Alumni office, has kicked off an aggressive membership registration campaign looking to register and engage members on email, social and print media and on text. The team targets to reach out to over 7000 Alumni across different countries and generations.

Ms. Dolly Sagwe

The key focus of the Membership Committee is to ensure all alumni across the spectra are engaged and connected with each other and with the University.

She believes that the Alumni community is a force that, if engaged well, can contribute massively to its members, the University and the community we live in.

Noting that the university boasts over 40 years of graduation ceremonies, the Membership Committee head understands the need to engage in different ways the different generations of graduates and looks forward to reaching out to this diverse community that shares a common bond and use that wealth of diversity to continue to grow and enrich the University.

In the recent past, members have been engaged in various activities including re-unions, networking cocktails and Alumni Sports Day event. A promising calendar of activities and rewarding member benefit promises are on the offing and will add value to each Alumni member making them eager to

After achieving the right level of member registration, a crown jewel event is planned. The inaugural United States International University-Africa Alumni Homecoming that will be a launch of annual homecoming events. This event is a renewed effort to attract back as many diverse graduates to come network across generations and share ideas on how to continue supporting the University and support their individual growth and engagement as they boast membership from a transformational University.

“Am looking forward to working with all Alumni as I spearhead the effort to make USIU-A Alumni proud and active members of the Alumni Association.”

Alumni

Courtesy of Google

Proud to be USIU-A alumnus

Ms. Lulu Saidi

She is the real face of what a recent graduate of USIU could be, and the kind of alumni this school really needs. She’s the morning radio host for One FM, a show that competes with some of the biggest in Kenya. She’s a woman who projects the confidence of someone who very recently made it, but still has the sense of surprise that she did. Lulu started off being a radio host on USIU-A radio, a bit of a side gig, roughly a hobby fulfilling a passion rather than a desperate grab for radio glory.

The International Relations major started off reading the news before starting her show the Juice Box. Her talent was recognized very quickly, and she was recruited within months of hitting the airwaves. Her alumni experience is one that many share, a person that would love involvement but has no idea how to do it.

Lulu’s current lack of involvement is one that would be sorely missed, as hers is a voice yearning to be one of social change for her home country of Kenya. While at USIU-A she formed

a club called Young Africans Seeking Change, promoting development of human rights within East Africa. Lulu’s story is cut of a cloth that the USIU Alumni Association would need to weave an effective tapestry to draw in future alumni to form an effective program for years to come. With her show being a platform already, the possible exposure being drawn to the face lift of the alumni program drawing in some of many young, recent and hip graduates of this proud University.

Lulu is a reflection of many alumni from this University, who would not only want to sign a piece of paper with the letter head ‘Courtesy of the Alumni Association’; but to become an active participant. She’s one of many who would love to help the current undergraduates of this school to gain success both during and after their attendance here.

When the idea of mentorship program was floated during the interview, her eyes lit up over the idea.

“I would love to do that!” she beamed, “There wasn’t enough of that while I was here, and I could’ve used it, especially during first year.” Indeed, imagine what a mentorship program of alumni boasting of such successful former graduates as Lulu Saidi could offer to this University, helping the young and impressionable attendees to avoid the pitfalls of college life. She is the exact kind of alumni this university desperately needs to move forward and expand, perhaps it’s time we give her an outlet to help.

Story by Alex Roberts

Sports

Stepping towards USIU-A alumni future

Photo by Dan Muchai

students was overwhelmingly positive as slowly students began to trickle in to watch the days events unfold. For a first time event, proceedings were surprisingly smooth and timely, with the necessary facilities being installed without a hitch or delay to the action.

The Alumni Sports Day even helped bring in some much needed publicity and sponsorship, with Executive Water keeping the heat at bay and Safaricom decking out the alumni teams with some great kits. Many of those who attended were surprised that this was the first of its kind, some thought it had been going on for years.

This Alumni Sports Day was a great testament to what can happen with the Alumni taking an active role in their alma mater. It also served as a jumping off point to future expansion of this event as well as other Alumni Association events taking place at United States

By Alex Roberts International University. The future of the Alumni Sports Day looks bright, as there is already talk of increasing attendance

The direction of the alumni and participation through a variety of program is looking great, thanks in no different means. small part to the alumni sports day of Among these is to take on individual July 12th. This event is just an indication sporting events such as tennis and of the planned new look for the Alumni kickboxing in order to broaden the Association and it’s intention of getting appeal to more athletes. There is also former USIU students more involved the exciting possibility of getting the with their alma mater. The day was National Overall Sporting Organization a resounding success with over 400 involved to help professionalize the people attending this inaugural event. event and gain more publicity.

The atmosphere was one of Finally the Alumni Sports Day of years renewed pride in USIU as spectators to come may feature family orientated watched a series of great games take events to appeal to alumni who place. Among these were the always graduated more than five years ago. popular rugby and football drawing Overall this Alumni Sports Day was a cheers from the crowd of former peers resounding success, with participants and reunited friends in attendance. holding an impromptu reunion at nearby Men’s and women’s hockey and Natives Bar and toasting long into the basketball were also featured with night. competitive matches in all four cases.

The response from current

Photos by Dan Muchai

Sports

Various Alumni games during Alumni sports day in July 2014.

Editorial Team

Photo by: Lawrence Nzuve

My Alumni Dre am!

Safi Godana Ibrae

USIU-A is known for its big heart when it comes to corporate social responsibility; it gives a variety of scholarships for the less fortunate members of the society as well as minorities. They also have the alumni grant where the alumni get a chance to give back to USIU community. That is why I say that I am actually proud of our alumni.

Giving back to the society is my tagline. Coming from Chalbi desert where the sweetness of education is not fully known, I have more reasons as to why I should give back and educate the world whenever possible. Throughout

my academic journey from High school to undergraduate here in USIU, I have been lucky to get scholarships to pursue my studies, as right now I am on Diversity scholarship. Courtesy of USIU-A Financial aid.

Simply working alongside our alumni has already proved valuable towards shaping what I want to do with my life.Thanks to Hifadhi Africa for giving me a bit of experience on how to serve the society.

As USIU alumni, Charles Mwakio, Collins Nakedi and Jovenal Nsengimana have done an incredible job of creating a charitable NGO, Hifadhi Africa Organization which is currently operating in Nairobi, Baringo and Marsabit.

Education is one of their key areas and as we speak, they have sponsored four students who are now in form one from east Pokot,Baringo county, and they will have two others joining USIU for their undergraduate come Fall 2014 thanks to USIU-A financial aid.

Hongera to USIU alumni!

Editorial Team

An alumni’s Fulfilment

Photo by: Adrianne Georgette

alumni can still be part of the USIU-A fraternity and be able to impact lives.

By increasing the awareness and membership of the alumni association through the magazine the institution will greatly improve as well as more student gains.

This is seen through scholarship funds that are donated by the alumni to benefit some of the students struggling with the fees. I am one of the beneficiaries of the sports scholarship funds. It is because of this that I can’t wait to join the alumni association Solomon Naviswa Mutama and also be in a position to aid the institution that is seeing me through. It is

It is an honor to be part of the first paramount for Alumni to not forget what USIU-A Alumni magazine, that seeks the insitution has empowered you with. to be a transition between the past and future of the alumni association.

The alumni magazine will not only connect alumni from all over the world but it is through this medium that students will be able to relive USIU-A memories. By keeping this connections

Photo by: Nobert Amone

Trending on the right ground

Alex Roberts

It’s easy to live in your parents’ guest bedroom until you are kicked to the curb at age thirty two.This situation is compounded in Kenya, where it’s often times even more difficult to find a job that can sustain a normal person.

There are times when it seems that this situation will become even more difficult to rectify in the coming years, with the costs of living inflating like a balloon and everyone getting a job because their relation works there.

It’s a mortifying gauntlet of stress and compromise for any realistic recent undergraduate. We need every last leg up and shoulder to lean on available to us, and often those supports are vastly few and far between.

The real purpose is to help grow and support the current students seeking degrees in this University. With all of the expansions of alumni association programs that are currently in the works at USIU this could be the kind of assistance that many current and former students here didn’t have enough access to.

I’d love to be more involved with them, to know them, and share commonalities with them.

Alumni Magazine

UNMASKED

United States International University - Africa TEL: +254 20 36060000 TWITTER:@USIUAfrica INSTAGRAM:USIUafrica WEBSITE:WWW.USIU.AC.KE EMAIL: ADMIT@USIU.AC.KE FACEBOOK: facebook.com/USIUAfrica

Summer 2014