Team Members

The Team Profiles

	Prof. Munyae M. Mulinge, Chair of the Advisory Committee Prof. Munyae M. Mulinge is currently a Professor of Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, at USIU-Africa. He holds a BA (First Class Honors) in Sociology and an MA in Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Nairobi, Kenya; an MBA from the University of the Northwest, South Africa and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Iowa, USA. Prof. Mulinge joined USIU-Africa in January 2009. He has served the University in various capacities including being Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Associate DVC, Academic Affairs and DVC, Academic and Student Affairs. Prior to joining USIU-Africa, Prof. Mulinge had taught Sociology in various colleges and universities in the United States, Botswana, and Kenya. He has conducted research in varied areas, including Higher Education (focusing on governance and the quality of postgraduate training), job satisfaction and organizational attachment, corruption and economic mismanagement, ethnicity and HIV/AIDS, leading to the authorship and publication of many research works with internationally acclaimed journals and publishing houses
	Prof. Amos Njuguna, Advisory Committee Member Prof. Amos Njuguna serves as the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academics - Transformative Teaching, Learning, and Research (TTLR) and oversees the Academics Division, which includes six Schools, the Library, and Quality Assurance. A professor of finance, he brings a wealth of academic expertise and a dedication to research and education. With a Doctorate in Business Administration from Nelson Mandela University and a Master of Business Administration from Egerton University, he holds dual professional qualifications as a Certified Public Accountant in Kenya (CPAK) and a Certified Secretary (CS), demonstrating his proficiency in financial and corporate governance matters. As a fellow of the East Africa Social Science Translation Collaborative at the University of California, Berkeley, Prof. Njuguna has engaged in cutting-edge research and cross-cultural collaborations, enriching his global perspective. Prof. Njuguna has held significant leadership roles, including Chairperson of the Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA), showcasing his commitment to impactful research in the region. His tenure at the United States International University began in 2007 and has been marked by notable achievements. As Associate Dean of the Chandaria School of Business from 2013 to 2016 and subsequently as Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Research, and Extension from September 2017 to August 2023, he played a pivotal role in shaping the future of business education and overseeing the growth and development of the School.
	Dr. Paul Okanda, Advisory Committee Member Paul Okanda graduated with a PhD in Computer Science from Lancaster University’s School of Computing and Communications in 2006 after which he worked as a Researcher on a number of European Union (EU) funded research projects involving a number of Universities and industrial players all over Europe. He was previously Associate Dean at USIU-Africa’s School of Science & Technology (SST) and Director, ICT at USIU-Africa. He has published a number of journals and peer reviewed papers presented at International Conferences. He is also a principal author of two books; “OpenPING: A Principled Approach to Construction of flexible Distributed Virtual Environments using Structural Reflection” and “An adaptive Framework for run-time Group-based Communication”. He is currently an Associate Professor of Computer Science & Technology at United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa). His research interests include Distributed Systems, High Performance Computing (HPC), Artificial Intelligence, e-Learning, Machine Learning, Big Data, Data Analytics, Cloud Computing & Virtualization, Middleware and Sensor Networks.
	Prof. Amos Njuguna, Advisory Committee Member Prof. Amos Njuguna serves as the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academics - Transformative Teaching, Learning, and Research (TTLR) and oversees the Academics Division, which includes six Schools, the Library, and Quality Assurance. A professor of finance, he brings a wealth of academic expertise and a dedication to research and education. With a Doctorate in Business Administration from Nelson Mandela University and a Master of Business Administration from Egerton University, he holds dual professional qualifications as a Certified Public Accountant in Kenya (CPAK) and a Certified Secretary (CS), demonstrating his proficiency in financial and corporate governance matters. As a fellow of the East Africa Social Science Translation Collaborative at the University of California, Berkeley, Prof. Njuguna has engaged in cutting-edge research and cross-cultural collaborations, enriching his global perspective. Prof. Njuguna has held significant leadership roles, including Chairperson of the Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA), showcasing his commitment to impactful research in the region. His tenure at the United States International University began in 2007 and has been marked by notable achievements. As Associate Dean of the Chandaria School of Business from 2013 to 2016 and subsequently as Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Research, and Extension from September 2017 to August 2023, he played a pivotal role in shaping the future of business education and overseeing the growth and development of the School.
	Prof. Philip Machoka, Advisory Committee Member Philip Machoka is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems and currently the e-Learning Director at USIU Online..
	Eannes Ongus, Advisory Committee Member Mr. Eannes Ongus is the Director, Advancement & Partnership, which oversees departments of Resource Mobilization (Development), Alumni Relations, Partnerships & External Linkages and Mastercard Foundation Initiatives at USIU-Africa. Previously, he served as Chief Manager, Development, leading the university’s resource mobilization/fundraising efforts with a focus on grants, annual and capital campaigns, partnership development and alternative funding models for financing the university’s infrastructural projects. Mr. Ongus also leads the university’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives/commitments to Education, Sustainability and Governance. Previously, he served, as Director - Fundraising, Grants and Partnership and Diversity Education Institute (DEI) contact for Africa, was Fundraising and External Relations Officer at USIU-Africa, Finance and Administration unit at United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR- Kakuma). Mr. Ongus holds a BSc. Information Systems and Technology from USIU-Africa and a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Management from York St. John University, United Kingdom. His work centres around change management, leadership development, resource mobilization, community empowerment/ development, and he regularly donates his time, finances and skills to support community health, social and educational programs.
	Dr. Peter Kigwilu, Advisory Committee Member Dr. Peter Kigwilu holds a PhD in Curriculum Studies and Instruction from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, a Masters in Curriculum Studies and a Bachelor of Education both from the University of Nairobi. He has worked as an educator for 23 years, with 15 years at university level. He currently is the Director of Quality Assurance and Accreditation Liaison Officer at United States International University-Africa. Dr. Kigwilu is a quality assurance and curriculum development resource person for the Commission for University Education (Kenya) and the National Council for Higher Education (Namibia). He is also an educational assessment consultant with the Kenya National Examinations Council. Dr. Kigwilu is a founding member of the Coordination Centre for Networking of International TVET Research in sub-Saharan Africa (CONVET), and a member of the Kenya Universities Quality Assurance Network (KuQAN), the Association for Faculty Enrichment in Learning and Teaching (AFELT) and the East Africa Quality Assurance Network (EAQAN). He is also an Editorial Board Member of the KEMI Journal of Educational Leadership and Management. Dr. Kigwilu is an accomplished educator, researcher and quality assurance practitioner. He has published widely in referred journals, book chapters and university-level modules in the field of education. He has also supervised a dozen Doctorate and Masters students and currently serves as an external examiner for graduate research in two universities.
	Everlyne Anyal Musa, Program Director, e-Learning Initiative, and Secretary to the Advisory Committee Everlyn is the Program Director, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative at USIU-Africa. She has over 25 years of experience in managing Education and Scholarship programs for individual and organizational capacities' development. She draws various departments, teams, partners and stakeholders together for demonstrated commitment to deliver sustained positive impact through strategy setting, resource and work-plan management, progress monitoring and reporting, stakeholders management and leading teams to reach, mobilize, recruit and strengthen capacities for transformational change and impact. Looking forward to consolidating many years of experience in higher education and leadership development through scholarship opportunities, African diaspora Scholars engagement and online learning as pathways to achieve quality, equity and resilience in education provision to enable all learners, especially the disadvantaged, to develop skills relevant for the current workplace and societal needs. Everlyn holds an MBA (Strategic Management) from the University of Nairobi and a BA (Literature and Linguistics) from Kenyatta University. Everlyn’s earlier professional engagements include leading the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program – CADFP and mobilized African born Diaspora scholars and the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program – IFP in Kenya focusing on scholarship as a track to social change, inclusion and leadership development. She has published in the area of Higher Education and Leadership and has attended and facilitated many local and international conferences on Higher Education.
	Catherine Machyo Catherine Machyo is an accomplished educationist and expert curriculum developer with a Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum Development. With a deep passion for fostering educational excellence and innovation, Catherine has dedicated her career to designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs that meet the needs of diverse learners. Her extensive experience in the field and strong background in educational research and program evaluation has seen her work with various institutions in developing and designing both face to face and online curricula, among them online programs at USIU-Africa. Her proficiency in e-Learning design is exemplified by her ability to create engaging and interactive online learning experiences using various e-Learning tools. Her interest in educational research and program evaluation has seen her conduct research in varied aspects of education.
	Collins Kibiwott, Associate Instructional Designer Collins has over 10 years of experience in educational technology, specializing in various learning management systems and e-learning solutions. He excels at identifying core course objectives and translating them into actionable instructional strategies for online delivery. As a performance strategist and agent of change, Collins brings extensive knowledge in strategic planning, project management, and change management. He is skilled in using content authoring tools such as Articulate Studio 360 and Adobe Captivate, as well as software development in Python, Java, SQL, and JavaScript. Additionally, he is proficient in developing interactive web applications with HTML5, CSS, and PHP. Collins holds an MBA in Business Strategic Management From USIU-Africa, and has earned numerous certifications, including the Quality Matters (QM) Masterclass for Teaching Online from Arizona State University, Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) in Server Infrastructure, Launchpad Masterclass Certification, IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundation 2011 Service Management, IBM Big Data Specialist, IBM Business Intelligence Analyst, IBM Predictive Analytics Specialist, and IBM Cloud Application Developer.
	Denis Mutegi, Associate Instructional Designer Denis is an experienced e-learning developer and ICT professional with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Karatina University. He has extensive expertise in developing comprehensive e-learning projects and has served in various capacities, including independent consultant, e-learning developer for UC Global Programs Kenya and Health IT Kenya, and lead instructional designer for OCTOPUS ICT Solutions Limited. His roles have involved content analysis, development, management of learning management systems (LMS), providing technical and learner support, and conducting training sessions. Denis is dedicated to delivering high-quality e-learning solutions and fostering effective learning environments.
	Erick Kinungi, Associate Instructional Designer Erick Kinungi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film Technology from Kenyatta University and a Diploma in Web and Graphics Design from Nairobits Digital Design School. Currently, he is enrolled in a Master's program in Digital Communication at USIU-Africa. With over 5 years of experience in Information Technology, Erick has excelled as a Multimedia/Web specialist, providing robust support in various ICT-related capacities. He exhibits a strong passion for online pedagogy and strives for excellence in implementing effective communication practices in online learning environments.
	Mary Kamau, Associate Instructional Designer Mary Kamau is a seasoned educator currently serving as an Associate Instructional Designer at USIU-Africa. She holds both a Master's degree and a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics Education from Kenyatta University, providing her with a strong academic foundation in education. Additionally, she has a diploma in Information Technology, which enables her to seamlessly integrate technology into her teaching methodologies. Mary is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education at Kenyatta University. With over two decades of teaching experience spanning both secondary and tertiary levels, she has developed a deep understanding of pedagogical approaches tailored to diverse student populations. Committed to professional development, Mary has completed training in the Master Class for Teaching Online. Her diverse educational background, continuous pursuit of advanced qualifications, and dedication to professional development make her a valuable asset to USIU Africa's instructional design team. Her blend of academic expertise, technological proficiency, and extensive teaching experience enables her to contribute meaningfully to the institution's mission of fostering excellence in education.
	Allan Magak, Research Analyst Allan is a skilled expert in Data Analytics, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. He has over five years of experience in the research field, having previously worked as a quantitative and qualitative data analyst in the public sector. Mr. Magak is a co-author of two scientific papers addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation strategies. Allan is an experienced professional in data management, modelling, and visualization, committed to project productivity and success. With his expertise in data analytics, Allan focuses on assessing and measuring the process and progress of e-Learning readiness and adoption. He collects, analyzes, and reports data to evaluate the effectiveness of the project. He is also passionate about Data Science, aiming to understand the strategic value of various types of data generated from digital transformation.
	Oscar Webala, Associate Instructional Designer Oscar is a passionate training, learning, and development (TL&D) professional with over 10 years of experience across 3 institutions of higher learning. He excels in various aspects of TL&D, including educational support, designing instructor-led training, and developing creative and interactive eLearning and blended learning solutions. In his current role as an Instructional Designer, Oscar leverages innovative eLearning strategies to foster continuous learning. He has a keen interest in harnessing the potential of digital learning platforms to create dynamic, accessible, and effective educational programs that align with industry standards. Oscar holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resource Management (HRM) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in HRM from the Presbyterian University of East Africa (PUEA). He is currently pursuing a Master of Instructional Design and Technology (MIDT) to further enhance his expertise. In addition, he has actively expanded his knowledge through certification courses in online course design, cybersecurity awareness, and Quality Matters, among others. Oscar is a member of the Distance, Open, and E-Learning Practitioners of Kenya (DOLPAK) and the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM). His passion lies in creating meaningful training, learning, and development experiences.
	Michael Mkonji, Associate Instructional Designer Michael has over 15 years of experience in the ICT field, primarily within higher education. He has served as both an ICT educator and an ICT officer. He holds a B.Sc. in Computing and Information Systems from the University of Portsmouth, UK, and a Higher Diploma in Management of Information Systems (IMIS), UK. He is interested in exploring underutilized IT and future internet opportunities in education, both globally and specifically in Africa, as well as how IT can be leveraged to provide education access to marginalized communities worldwide. He is currently pursuing an MSc in Information Security and Digital Forensics.
	Marcia Mukalo, Associate Instructional Designer Marcia is a talented creative professional with nearly a decade of experience in teaching, instructional design, and creative content production. Her expertise includes the effective use of instructional technologies, as well as collaborating with faculty to design and develop curricula that align with learning objectives and cater to diverse student populations. Marcia has successfully developed and taught online programs for institutional courses in digital arts, including 3D modelling, character design, animation production and motion design. She was also actively involved in the development and revision of the Diploma in Animation curriculum for TVET institutions. Marcia holds a Bachelors Degree in Film production and Animation from Multimedia University of Kenya and has various Instructional design certifications including the Quality Matters (QM) Masterclass for Teaching Online from Arizona State University. In her current role as an instructional designer in the E-Learning program, she continues to enhance her capabilities in instructional design practices. A creative thinker and highly motivated team player driven by a passion for researching and solving sustainable challenges in education and creative innovation in Africa and beyond.
	Levi Ojiambo, Interactive Multimedia Specialist Levi is a Multimedia Specialist with over 17 years of experience in the media industry as an Advertising Creative and Motion/Broadcast Designer. In his role as a Multimedia Specialist, he assists the online department in the production of videos, from shooting in the studio to post-production editing. He also produces graphical communication materials, both animated and still, to be used on the Blackboard learning management system. He holds an Advanced Diploma in 3D Animation and Multimedia from ShangTao Media Arts College.
	Dr. Bernadette Kiarie, Instructional Designer Dr. Bernadette Kiarie holds a Ph.D. in Educational Technology, a Master of Education in Educational Communication Technology, a Bachelor of Education, a postgraduate diploma in Computer Systems & Applications and a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design & Performance Improvement, among many other certifications in the field of instructional design and online pedagogy. She is associated with the eLearning Initiative by virtue of being the Instructional Designer at USIU Online, the eLearning implementing Directorate at USIU-Africa. As a seasoned educator, Bernadette's expertise in instructional design has been instrumental in the eLearning Initiative where she is the Lead –Training, Content Development and Acquisition. Through USIU Online, she has collaborated with colleagues in the Directorate to organize faculty training for the development of effective and high-quality online course content. Within the eLearning Initiative, Bernadette works closely with the Subject-Matter Experts (SMEs), Associate Instructional Designers, eLearning Technologists and Multimedia Specialists. This involves the formation of online course content development teams which consist of instructors, instructional designers, eLearning technologists and multimedia specialists. Content development teams are guided by the Commission for University (CUE) standards and guidelines, USIU-Africa’s online learning policy, procedures and processes to create high-quality online course content for the online programs at USIU-Africa
	Deborah Njuguna, Associate e-Learning Technologist Deborah Njuguna is a dedicated IT professional with a robust background in eLearning, content development, and ICT. She currently serves as an eLearning technologist at USIU-Africa. Deborah holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from USIU-Africa and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Kenya Methodist University. Her skills include troubleshooting, implementing new technologies, managing virtual platforms, and content development. Deborah also holds multiple certifications, including Cisco Certified Networking Associate, Network Security Associate, Quality Matters, and Monitoring and Evaluation from USIU-Africa. Additionally, she has completed training in the Master Class for Teaching Online. Known for her analytical abilities and team-oriented approach, Deborah is passionate about driving success in competitive, dynamic environments.
	Daniel Wambugu, Associate e-Learning Technologist Daniel is a skilled e-Learning designer with extensive experience in developing and refining online course content. He collaborates closely with multimedia developers and other team members to produce high-quality online learning courses. By employing effective instructional delivery methods and modern course design practices, Daniel provides robust faculty support throughout the instructional design process. In his role, Daniel serves as a key resource for e-learning technology support, collaborating directly with Subject-Matter Experts (SMEs) on course content development. He integrates cutting-edge technological tools into course materials and adheres to Quality Matters (QM) online course design standards, ensuring that each course meets its learning objectives. Daniel is committed to enhancing educational experiences through innovative design and technology integration. Daniel holds a BSc in Computer Science from Moi University. His background in ICT and data analysis, combined with his instructional design expertise, makes him a versatile professional dedicated to empowering both learners and educators.
	Agnes Njeri, Research Analyst Agnes is a research analyst with over two years of experience in project management, particularly in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning. Her expertise includes designing research methodologies, developing data collection tools using Google Forms and Kobo Toolbox, conducting data collection, analyzing data using SPSS and Excel, disseminating research findings, writing proposals, implementing impact measurement techniques such as randomized control trials and formulating monitoring and evaluation frameworks,. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Statistics and is currently pursuing a Master of Economics (Policy and Management) at Kenyatta University. Agnes has also received training in Monitoring and Evaluation and basic Kenyan Sign Language. Additionally, she is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI). Agnes supports the project through monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning. Her key roles entail; conducting needs assessments for proposed online programs, assessment of effectiveness of the project activities, and tracking progress to ensure that the outcomes align with the project goals.
	Brenda Odhiambo, Lead, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Communications Brenda is a seasoned communications specialist with over nine years of experience in corporate communications and Public Relations across various sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa. She excels in leadership, communication strategy, cross-functional project management, and stakeholder management. Brenda has a track record of successfully managing PR and Communication initiatives for organizations in higher education, technology, banking, media industries, and NGOs in Kenya and East Africa. Brenda currently serves as the Communications Lead for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning initiative at USIU-Africa, overseeing the planning, development, and implementation of communications strategies. Brenda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication (First Class Honours) from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Arts in Communication Studies (Public Relations Concentration) from the same institution. She has been recognized for her outstanding work ethic, twice winning the award for Best Work Ethic at a previous employer.
	Brian Nyamwe, Associate e-Learning Technologist Mr. Brian Nyamwe boasts nearly 8 years of ICT, Data Science, and Analytics expertise. He is constantly exploring and upskilling in Data Science & Information Systems and Technology coupled with practical experience. He possesses a solid ability to respond to changing requirements and assignments. His proficiency spans multiple technological domains: Education Technology (eLearning), System Administration (Windows & Linux), Programming (Data analytics-oriented Python, SQL & R), Big Data Engineering, Business Intelligence (Tableau & Power BI), Cloud Computing (AWS, Azure & GCP), and Computer Networking. Brian holds an MSc in Information Systems and Technology from USIU-Africa and a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science (Statistics Concentration). He is pursuing an MSc in Data Science at the University of Nairobi. His extensive list of certifications includes the; Micro-Master’s Program in Statistics and Data Science by MIT Online, AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate, Confluent Certified Administrator for Apache Kafka® (CCAAK), Designing Your Online Course by Quality Matters (QM), Masterclass for Teaching Online from Arizona State University, IBM Artificial Intelligence Mastery, IBM Big Data Mastery, IBM Blockchain Developer Mastery, IBM Predictive Analytics Mastery, MCSA Windows Server Administration, and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). Brian is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and Kenya National Statistical Society (KNSS) professional organizations.
	Henry Nyoike, Associate e-Learning Technologist Henry holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. He has 7 years working experience in IT in various areas; eLearning systems implementation, Web Development and End User Systems Support.
	Ernest Adungo, Instructional Designer and e-Learning Technologist Mr. Ernest Andugo is an Instructional Designer and eLearning Technologist at USIU-Africa with nearly 14 years of experience in higher education. He has significantly advanced eLearning programs by spearheading the creation of a state-of-the-art eLearning Resource Center at USIU-Africa. This innovative Centre supports content creation and delivery for 20 online programs and features recording studios, pedagogy training labs, and multiple HyFlex facilities. Mr. Andugo holds a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design and Performance Improvement from Arizona State University, a Master's Degree in Business Administration from USIU-Africa, and a Bachelor's degree in Business Information Technology from Strathmore University. Certified in Blackboard LMS administration, Quality Matters, and the Commonwealth of Learning, he brings extensive IT service delivery experience to his role. Ernest is committed to developing robust online learning and instructional continuity strategies, focusing on enhancing educational technologies to enrich the learning experience for students and faculty.
	Lilian Rondo, Project Administrator, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative Lilian is a results-driven professional with over four years of experience in administrative roles. Her tenure at British American Tobacco as a supervisor involved successfully launching and distributing a new product in the market. She excelled as a regional sales executive at Airtel Kenya, providing essential support to retailers and consumers while maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders. Lilian holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Management from the United States International University-Africa, which has equipped her with a global perspective and solid business foundations. Currently serving as a Project Administrator, she ensures effective coordination and execution of project activities, including planning meetings, travel logistics, and procurement. As the main point of contact between stakeholders, team members, and project staff, Lilian’s communication skills are invaluable. She is currently pursuing certification in Kenyan Sign Language. Her passion for education and inclusivity drives her commitment to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative, where she strives to deliver high-quality, accessible e-learning experiences.

Our Workstream 'A' Facilitators

Workstream 'A' Facilitators

	Prof. Henry Wambuii, Faculty Advisor - Online Pedagogy Consultant for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative. He is a graduate of the University of Nairobi [BA] and Western Michigan University [MA in International development and PhD in Political Science.] Prof. Wambuii teaches Political Science and International Development at the University of Central Missouri, U.S.A., with over seventeen years of teaching and class design experience both face to face and online. He has engaged extensively in various online teaching and educational leadership workshops and seminars and brings with him innovative knowledge on teaching online pedagogy. He was honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award-Tenure Track Faculty at the University of Central Missouri [2020] and has previously received the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship [Institute of International Education (IIE), 2020/2021] to support collaboration in developing online classes with faculty at the United States International University-Africa. His recent research and publications have focused on public policy formulation and capacity building in developing countries, poverty alleviation, and strategies for socio-economic and political growth in developing countries.
	Dr. Onesimus Otieno, Lead Trainer, Online Pedagogy He is a graduate of the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (BS), Ohio University (MA, MS), and Oklahoma State University (PhD). His interdisciplinary background includes Agriculture, International Affairs, Environmental, and Biological Sciences. He is a trained and accomplished facilitator in Online Pedagogy, Critical Thinking, Problem-Based Learning, Quality Matters – QM, and the use of Case Studies in teaching science. Has been a Professor of Biological Sciences at Oakwood University for the last 19 years.Much of his teaching has been in the traditional face-to-face format, he has taught fully online courses for over 10 years using several Learning Management Systems at multiple institutions. Additionally, he has spent the last 8 years training faculty on pedagogical approaches for integrating Critical Thinking in both the traditional and online formats. Dr. Otieno has a passion for teaching and mentoring young professionals as well as non-traditional students in both scientific content and professional development. He has mentored from Undergraduate to Post-doctoral candidates who have launched successful careers into more than 120 different Medical, Dental, Graduate and professional schools. Dr. Otieno remains active in international Development and has conducted successful Capacity Development Training in Costa Rica, Thailand, and several countries in Africa. Dr. Otieno is a two-time Carnegie Fellow where he worked with the Adventist University of Africa, School of Postgraduate Studies, to develop an online curriculum for the Masters in Public Health program. His most recent assignment was to train Faculty in Online Pedagogy at USIU, Africa and UEA, Baraton. His research partnerships include; the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Space and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Organization for Tropical Studies, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the United States Agency of International Development (USAID) among others.
	Dr. Joselyne Chenane Nkogo, Faculty Advisor - Online Pedagogy Consultant for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative. Dr. Nkogo earned her Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska, Omaha in 2018. Additionally, she holds a Master’s degree in criminal justice from the State University of New York, college at Buffalo and a Bachelor’s degree in Education Arts (with a specialization in English and Literature) from Egerton University, Kenya. Dr. Nkogo is an Assistant Professor in the School of Criminology and Justice Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. She is also an alumnus of the African Diaspora Carnegie Fellowship Program (USIU-Africa, Summer 2021). Her research interests include immigration, police-citizen relations, police legitimacy, consequences of contact with the criminal justice system, race and justice, and neighborhood contexts and crime and comparative criminal justice. Dr. Nkogo has published work in journals, such as Criminal Justice and Behavior, Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, Policing and Society, British Journal of Criminology, Crime and Delinquency and Race and Justice. She has authored and co-authored over 15 peer reviewed articles and book chapters. Dr. Nkogo is an active member of the American Society of Criminology’s (ASC) Divisions such as Policing, International Criminology (executive council member) and People of Color and Crime. She has received some awards including, Outstanding Teacher Award (2020) from the University of Massachusetts Lowell; Morgan Outstanding Graduate Award (2012) and Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award (2012) from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. She is currently serving on the editorial board of Spring Nature (SN) Social Sciences Journal and International Journal of Criminology and Sociology.
	Prof. Safary Wa-Mbaleka, Faculty Advisors, Instructional Design Prof. Wa-Mbaleka obtained a PhD in Online Education from Capella University in the USA. He holds 2 doctorates and 2 master’s degrees from the USA and one additional master’s degree from the Philippines. Prof. Safary Wa-Mbaleka was the Director of the Adventist University of Africa Online, located in Ongata Rongai (Nairobi), Kenya until April 2021. He is currently the Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at the same university. He is specialized in the fields of online education, curriculum and instruction, applied linguistics, and qualitative research. He has worked with online education for 17 years now, in 4 continents, and in different capacities: online course designer, online course facilitator, director of online instructional design, instructional designer, and now director of online education. In 2020, he was one of the lead architects of the standards and guidelines for online education as mandated by Kenya’s Commission on University Education. He has worked mainly in higher education in different colleges and universities in the USA, Puerto Rico, Philippines, and now in Kenya. He has also been a visiting professor in Myanmar, Thailand, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is also a prolific author of books and journal articles; some on online education. He has authored and co-authored more than 40 journal articles in national and international peer-reviewed journals, and more than 10 books, including the recent one, Planning and Delivering Quality Online Education: Fear No More (2020). He has delivered several conference presentations, research seminars, and trainings around the Philippines, the USA, Portugal, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, the Bahamas, Belize, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Malaysia, Italy, Macau, Singapore, and Thailand. Click here for more information.
	Dr. Wanjira Kinuthia, Lead Trainer, Instructional Design. Dr. Kinuthia received her Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Development and served as an Associate Professor for many years at Georgia State University. Dr. Wanjira Kinuthia works on learning design projects in the US, Africa, the Caribbean, and UAE. Current activities include consulting on higher education and NGOs on eLearning and curriculum development programs and mentoring graduate students. Service activities include Editorial Board membership on the International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication (IJEDICT) and the e/Merge Africa mentorship program. Her research projects focus on the use of OER and mLearning where she has edited several books and published many articles in this area.
	Dr. Rebecca Bayeck Faculty Advisor, Instructional Design Dr. Bayeck holds a dual Ph. D in Learning Design and Technology and Comparative International Education from the Pennsylvania State University. She has recently worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City. Dr. Bayeck is a researcher, designer, a technologist, and critical thinker. Her research interests lie at the intersection of learning sciences, educational technology, literacy studies, and the interdisciplinary field of game studies. Within this intersection, her research includes games (digital & analog); learning and literacies; emerging technologies, design of inclusive learning spaces and exhibitions. She is also interested in how culture shapes learning and literacy practices in different environments.
	Dr. Dorothea Nelson Faculty Advisor - Online Pedagogy Dr. Dorothea Nelson is an educator who believes that no matter the learning environment, all teaching should be learner centered. Further, she sees online learning as offering access to higher education to those who might never have had the opportunity. Dr. Dorothea received her bachelors degree in English (Honors) from the University of the West Indies, her masters degree in the Management of Libraries and Information Services from the University of Wales,UK, and her Ph.D. in education research -technology specialization, from the University of Calgary,Canada. Dr. Nelson has a wealth of experience garnered from her 25 years as a teacher, teaching K-12 students and from 15 years spent as director of the Antigua and Barbuda National Public Library where she oversaw the development of the library as it transitioned from manual operations to a library offering clients virtual access to all its services. Dr. Nelson also oversaw and facilitated the training of library personnel. When she finally left the library, staff had received in-house training and a group had received scholarships to pursue the first degree in library science. She is interested in education research, and her focus is on qualitative research methodologies, online teaching and learning, strategies for teaching English, and the community of inquiry framework.Working as an online facilitator at the UWI Open Campus, Dr. Nelson taught English for Academic Purposes. She also teaches composition at Lethbridge college, and volunteers at the University of the People, where she teaches Online Education Strategies.
	*Tutaleni I Asino* Faculty Advisor, Instructional Design Tutaleni holds a dual Ph.D. in Learning, Design & Technology and in Comparative International Education from Penn State University. A B.A. in Political Science and Media Studies; M.Sc. in Multimedia Technologies, and M.A in Corporate Communication from Duquesne University; and a M.Sc. in Instructional Systems from Cabrini College. Tutaleni I. Asino, is an experienced researcher, educator, and designer with a passion for finding innovative ways to use technology for learning, teaching and organizational performances. He is an Associate Professor in Educational Technology and Director of the Emerging Technology and Creativity Research Lab in School of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Aviation at the Oklahoma State University's College of Education and Human Sciences. He conducts research across the globe, in informal and formal learning spaces through a comparatives. His areas of research, writing, and presentations include: adoption and use of Emerging Technologies in Learning environments, Comparative and International Education, Mobile Learning and Design for Mobile Devices, Indigenous knowledge, Diffusion of Innovations, Open Education, and how culture, agency, and representation manifest themselves and interplay in the development and evaluation of learning technologies across learning contexts. He is an active member of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) where he served as president of the Culture, Learning and Technology Division in the AECT; the Comparative International Education Society (CIES) where he has served as Chair of the Indigenous Knowledge Special Interest Group and the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education where he served as Co-Chair of the African Perspective Group.

The Technical Team

	David Baraza, E-Learning Coordinator He reports to the steering committee of the eLearning program. He is responsible for all the day to-day oversight functions of the eLearning program. He serves as a key member of the steering committee with responsibilities in design, administration and evaluation of program outcomes. . Mr. Baraza has a Bachelor’s of Education Technology (Kenyatta University), Masters in Information Technology (Strathmore University) and has attended various e-Learning professional courses. He has published in the areas of e-Learning adoption models, online learning interactions and e-learning for society. Baraza has the experience of successful commitment and delivery of public and Private organizational visions through effective leadership of teams and stakeholders in implementing e-Learning programs. Mr. Baraza major skills lies in e-Learning strategy, design, development, implementation and Evaluation of e-learning programs. He has led teams in successfully implementing distributed learning for both Anglophone and Francophone countries. He has demonstrated commitment and integrity for delivery of sustained positive results in e-Learning programs focusing on individual and organizational mentorship in learning through technology. He makes critical e-Learning decisions in complex circumstances through use of available data. He is a member of e-learning Africa, Editorial board member DJERR Donnis Journals and is a Judge at the Kenya Science and Engineering Fairs association His passion is to see a society that has equal opportunities for access and quality to Education through embracing affordable learning Technologies.
	Daniel Wambugu, IT Specialist Is in charge of various key activities in the project ranging from scaling, project data collection analysis and reporting. He holds a bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Moi University. He has 4 years working experience as an IT Technician working for the Institute of Advanced Technology (IAT) for 3 years and Intel College for 1 year. He is a trained tutor and has doubled up as an Ms. Excel consultant in both of his former workplaces.
	Brian Nyamwe, IT Specialist His key activities are; 1. Ecosystem Design 2. Training and Knowledge Management 3. Scaling, and 4. Monitoring and Evaluation. He’s responsible for the projects’ various data analytics and reporting. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science and a Master of Science Degree in Information Systems and Technology from USIU-Africa. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Statistics at the University of Nairobi. He has over five years of experience in the ICT field Other interests: Brian is a statistician with great enthusiasm and passion for Data Science
	Emmy Chepkemoi, IT Specialist She is responsible for maintaining, improving and regularly evaluating IT systems to ensure they meet the necessary deands. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Egerton University and CCNA certificate from African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI). She has 8 years working experience as IT Support, System/ Network/Database Administrator. She is a member of the Computer society of Kenya and is passionate about technology to increase productivity and efficiency in processes. .
	Deborah Njuguna, IT Specialist Her key activities are; 1. Ecosystem Design 2. Training and Knowledge Management 3. Scaling and 4. Monitoring and Evaluation. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information System and she is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration at USIU-Africa. She has over 4 years’ experience in the ICT field in the areas of hardware repairs and maintenance, end user support, Microsoft 365 and Microsoft exchange.
	Henry Nyoike, IT Specialist Henry holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Has 7 years working experience in IT in various areas; eLearning systems implementation, Web Development and End User Systems Support.