By Dorothy Otieno
When Prof Biren ‘Ratnesh’ Nagda left Kenya to study in the US over two decades ago, he did not imagine he would one day become an internationally celebrated social work scholar.
With a passion for helping people, he wanted to become a dentist.
Prof Biren ‘Ratnesh’ Nagda is an award winning scholar at University of Washington. [PHOTO: COURTESY]
Today the desire to help others has resulted in doctorates in sociology and psychology and international acclaim.
The Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, University of Washington, is recognised for his scholarship and teaching that promote diversity.
Recently, the university honoured him for teaching and research work that has transformed knowledge and teaching of diversity and social justice.
His personal experiences made him acutely aware of the issues. "I grew up as an Indian in Kenya and was born just after the end of British colonial rule and at the start of black African determination and self-government. Indians were caught in between like a wedge," he said during a past award event.
The Jamhuri High School old boy has made an impact on students far beyond the classroom. As a graduate student at the University of Michigan more than 20 years ago, he was one of the founders of the inter-group dialogue — a technique that involves face-face meeting of students from different backgrounds to explore issues of diversity and their impact on relationships.
Today all social work undergraduate students at the university are required to learn the technique.
Nagda established the University of Washington Inter-group Dialogue Education and Action (IDEA) Centre that won the Brotmab award.
The scholar, who has won several best teacher awards, was a visiting scholar at the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre in Capetown South Africa where he established the Global Development for Peace and Leadership initiative.