2022–23 Frederick A. White Distinguished Professor of Professional Service

Wakiuru Wamwara

Wakiuru Wamwara, Ph.D., professor of marketing, who has championed the expansion of global awareness and international understanding at Wright State University and beyond, received the 2022–23 Frederick A. White Distinguished Professor of Professional Service Award.

“Her many commitments undertaken as a member of Wright State’s faculty to both our students and the development of the international community of scholars stands out for the breadth of impact of her service activities,” said Thomas Traynor, Ph.D., retired dean of the Raj Soin College of Business.

As a Carnegie Africa Diaspora Fellow in 2017, Wamwara worked with two universities in Kenya on faculty development and graduate student supervision. She was on the Fulbright specialist roster as an African region specialist and served as secretary of the Fundraising and Marketing Committee and treasurer of KESSA, the Kenya Scholars and Studies Association, and was on the board of the Kenya USA Diaspora Sacco. She also trained Air Force personnel deploying to U.S. embassies in Africa through the Defense Institute of Security Advance Management at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

“Dr. Wamwara has also actively mentored our junior faculty and graduate students on various topics through her KESSA conference panels and workshops,” Kefa Otiso, founding president of KESSA.

Wamwara actively promotes study-abroad opportunities at Wright State.

She has coordinated efforts to internationalize the curriculum offered by the Raj Soin College of Business, including developing an online international marketing course and participating in a Collaborative Online International Learning course exchange with Africa Nazarene University in Nairobi, Kenya.

In conjunction with the University Center for International Education, Wamwara has coordinated visits by international guests from several countries and organized seminars promoting study abroad. She also developed and led the 2019 Japan Study Abroad Program.

She worked as a Magellan study-abroad advocate and coordinated visits to Wright State by Magellan partners from Finland and Germany. She participated in faculty exchanges at Lapland University of Applied Sciences in Finland, Kimathi University in Kenya, and Schmalkalden University and the University of Jena in Germany. She also taught in Semester at Sea.

“The outstanding service provided by Dr. Wamwara has significantly enriched the educational experience of Wright State students. Additionally, her service has significantly elevated the global profile of Wright State University and the Raj Soin College of Business,” said Charles Gulas, Ph.D., professor of marketing.

Wamwara distinguished herself as the faculty advisor for the student chapter of the American Marketing Association and the Association of Black Business Students.

She received the Raj Soin College of Business Outstanding Service Award three times, an Outstanding Marketing Student Teaching Award and the 2019 Wright State International Education Award.

Wamwara earned her Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Memphis, her master’s degree in management information systems and marketing from Vanderbilt University and her bachelor’s degree in computer science from LeMoyne-Owen College.

“Dr. Wamwara is a dedicated international educator who has served and continues to serve diligently in international education efforts,” said Jeremy Coates, lead of foundation programs at the Institute of International Education.