Female Professors

Do professors and female ones at that have a life amidst all that they do? SHIRLEY GENGA spent a day with three of them.

Prof Patricia Kameri – Mbote (Associate Professor), School of Law, University of Nairobi

1. When did you decide you wanted to be a professor?

Prof Peninah Aloo Obudho (Associate Professor), Zoology, Kenyatta University

Since I can remember I always wanted to be a Research Scientist after I completed my Bachelor of Education in Science but I guess fate intervened. After my undergraduate, I was awarded a scholarship under staff development and that was when my dream to be a professor was born.

b) What does it take to be a professor?

It takes a lot of work and commitment. I completed my masters in Science in 1988 at the University of Nairobi and in 1990 I became a tutorial fellow at the Kenyatta University. In 1992 after registering for my PhD, I was promoted to the position of lecturer. I held this position until 1999 even after completing my PhD in 1996. In 1999 I was appointed Senior Lecturer until 2005, when I was promoted to Associate Professor.

To move from one stage to the next is not an easy task as one is required to attend local and International conferences, present quality papers regionally, locally and internationally. Further one is required to publish articles in peer-recognised review Journals and must be active in their department and university at large.

c) A day in your life?

I get up at 5.30am and do exercises for 30 minutes every morning. By 6.30am I’ve bathed and dressed, then proceed to take my son to school, after which I come back home and between eight and nine I work on my articles, edit magazines where I am an editor or mark students’ exams. I’m usually at work around 9.30am. I teach general Zoology an introductory course for first years, Hydro Biology to second years and Main Ecology, a practical class for fourth years. I usually get home at 6pm and then take care of my family. At around 9.30pm I return to my books until 11pm.

d) How do you balance your role as wife, mother and academician?

I am very focused and time conscious person. I also draw power from praying. My husband, four children and my parents also give me a lot of support and encouragement.

e) Advice to anyone who wants to be a professor?

First of all you have to be confident, focused and ready to work very hard. To be a professor is no easy task. People must see you shine academically.

f) What don’t you like about your job?

I really hate it when students do not take their work seriously and end up getting low grades. It hurts me so much to see them waste their lives.

g) What do you love about your job?

I love to teach because it is my passion. Interacting with young people and imparting knowledge into their lives, is something I believe is not only important but a blessing. My job also requires a lot of research and I love researching, which makes it a big plus for me.

h) Future prospectus

By 2010, I hope to be a full professor and to be the best professor plus researcher in my field. I also would like to win a Nobel Place prize for my contribution to Zoology.

i) Other compliments in your life?

From 1997 to 2000 I was departmental Representative to the Fisheries Department of the Government. Between 2002 to 2003 was chairman of Department of Biological Sciences, 2004 to 2006. I was Departmental representative in Fisheries Department of the Government and was also chairman of the Kenya DAD Scholars Association (KDSA).

From 2006 to date I have bee the chairman of the University Committee on Gender Based Violence and Sexual Harassment, Editor in Chief of the Fisheries Department Newsletter Samaki News, Editor of African Journal of Science and Development (AJSD), Internal Auditor for ISO Quality Management system, chairman of the school of the Pure and Applied Science Regional Scientific Conference Committee.

Prof Collete Akoth Suda (Full Professor), Sociology, University of Nairobi

a)When did you decide you wanted to be a Professor?

As a young girl growing up in the rural area of Homa Bay District, I had a very strong interest in Education. I convinced myself that if I worked hard, applied myself and remained focused then I would be a good scholar. Basically all I wanted to be was the highest level a scholar could achieve.

b) What does it take to be a professor?

It takes very many years of hard work. You have to write articles, attend many conferences and play an active role in your department. I for example, got my PhD in 1988, in 1992 I was appointed senior lecturer and in 1997 I was appointed associate professor. Finally in 2002 I became a full professor. It took me 20 years of relentless hard work.

c) What do you love about being a professor?

First of all, to be a professor is the highest academic qualification anyone can have. Also I love to teach, it is wonderful to know that you have contributed to tomorrow’s future by imparting knowledge.

d) How do you balance being a mother, wife and academician?

I manage to bring balance, because I know what my roles and responsibilities are. I know which ones are more important. As a mother and a wife I have to create not just quantity but quality time. I usually do that in the evenings and on the weekends. During the day I make sure I give my best at work. Sometimes my different roles are in conflict but I am lucky to have an understanding and caring family.

Prof Collete Akoth Suda (Full Professor), Sociology, University of Nairobi

You simply cannot succeed as a professor without family support. So I make sure that my children and husband understand my work and if by chance I’m busy attending official duty they understand why. Thus I do not feel guilty, something a lot of career women suffer from when they cannot always be around.

e) What don’t you like about your job?

The fact that there are very few women. It is not because women don’t like academics but because of the fact that women face unique challenges as compared to their male counterparts. It is so much harder for a woman who is married with children to go through the process of becoming a professor. The university needs to create an environment to allow for the promotion of women to senior positions.

f) Prospectus

I would like to continue serving women, men and the young in my current capacity as secretary for Gender and Social Services, Minister of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social services. A position I have held since last year.

g) Other compliments

In 1999 I was appointed director of institute of Africa Studies till 2002. Last year I was appointed director of the Board of Common Undergraduate Courses (BCUC).