Mary Nyaikamba Mugwe, PhD
Prof. Mary Nyaikamba Mugwe PhD is an Associate Professor of Education at Mount Kenya University (MKU) with over twenty years of experience in teacher education, curriculum development, educational leadership, research, and community-engaged education practice.
She serves as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Champion at Mount Kenya University, contributing to the advancement of the SDGs through teaching, research, institutional leadership, partnerships, and community outreach. Her work focuses on education, gender equality, youth empowerment, peacebuilding, entrepreneurship, and education for sustainable development.
Prof. Mugwe has worked extensively with UNESCO, KNATCOM, and national education stakeholders, contributing to education, research, and capacity-building initiatives in Kenya and the Horn of Africa. Her work addresses girls’ education, gender-responsive pedagogy, peacebuilding, prevention of violent extremism, and learner resilience, particularly among marginalised and vulnerable communities.
She has contributed to UNESCO-supported research and interventions addressing the educational impacts of female genital mutilation (FGM), teenage pregnancy, and child marriage in Narok and Kajiado Counties, strengthening teacher capacity and informing policy dialogue. She is also a certified Trainer for the Students Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion (STEP) programme, supporting youth employability, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods.
In addition, Prof. Mugwe has supported partnerships between MKU and correctional institutions, contributing to education programmes in prisons that promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), rehabilitation, and social reintegration. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, co-authored academic books, and actively supervises postgraduate research in education and related fields.
Currently serving as Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies in the School of Education at MKU, and formerly Deputy Director of Distance and E-Learning, Prof. Mugwe continues to mentor educators and students, advancing education as a practical pathway for peace, inclusion, and sustainable development and has successfully facilitated numerous webinars and virtual training sessions, both as a presenter and moderator.