Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg

Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg is the current Director of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD).[1] Wanjiru is also the Founder and past Executive Director of Akili Dada,[2] an award-winning leadership incubator with a mission to contribute to nurturing transformative leadership in Africa's girls and young women.

Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg

PhD
BornApril 19, 1978
NationalityKenyan
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota

Ph.D in Political Science University of Minnesota M.A. Political Science Whitman College

B.A. Politics
TitleDirector, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development
Spouse(s)Isaac Rutenberg

Education

Wanjiru earned a Ph.D in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, where she concentrated on International Relations, Gender Studies & African History. Her 2008 dissertation on the Impact of Ethnic Politics on Women’s Rights legislation during Kenya’s Democratic Transition theorised about the intersection of gender, (re)production of ethnic identities and democratisation processes in emerging economies. Her essay using a gender lens to explore forced circumcision of men during Kenya's 2007-08 Post Election ethnic violence was one the first of its kind to use African men's experiences of political violence as a point of departure to theorise the intersection of gender and politics and was published in the Oxford University Transitional Justice Research Working Paper Series.

She was also awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) by Whitman College, Washington. This Honorary Doctorate recognised her scholarly work and activism towards gender equality especially in Africa. She delivered the commencement speech to the graduating class of 2017 as part of the award ceremony.

Kamau-Rutenberg also holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis awarded in 2005, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington awarded in 2001.

Career

In 2005, Kamau-Rutenberg established Akili Dada, a leadership incubator for girls and young women based in Nairobi, Kenya to address the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions in Africa. Akili Dada has awarded hundreds scholarships to bright girls from underprivileged backgrounds in Kenya. The organization invests in high-potential young African women from underprivileged backgrounds who are passionate about driving social change in their communities.

Kamau-Rutenberg also served as an Assistant Professor at University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA from August 2008 to March 2014. During her career in academia she focused on the politics of International Aid and Development, Politics of Global Philanthropy, African Politics, International Relations, Politics of Race and Ethnic Identity. She also served on Faculty Committees including those on African Studies, African American Studies, The Global Women’s Rights Forum and The Masters in International Relations Faculty Committee.

Kamau-Rutenberg also served as a Lecturer in International Relations at Hekima College, a Constituent College of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, from August 2013 to January 2014.

In March 2014 she was appointed the director of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) which is hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. AWARD invests in agricultural scientists, research institutions, and agribusinesses, strengthening their ability to deliver gender-responsive agricultural innovation for inclusive, agriculture-driven prosperity across Africa. In 2017 AWARD announced the One Planet Fellowships, a $15M, 5 year initiative with to invest in the careers of 600 scientists working towards research to help African smallholder farmers adapt towards a changing climate.

Awards and Honors
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References
  1. "Internationally Recognized African Woman Leader Named as New AWARD Director / CGIAR / Consortium News". 6 August 2014. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  2. "The African Century". Whitman Magazine. Sierra Dickey. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  3. "Top 40 Women Under 40 2014: How we picked them". Business Daily. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  4. "Champions of Change". The White House-President Barack Obama. Nini Legesse. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
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