Wakiuru Wamwara | Photo by Jahid Hasan | The Wright State Guardian
Dr. Wakiuru Wamwara is a professor of marketing at Wright State University as well as an inclusion officer for the Raj Soin College of Business. She has had an incredible journey throughout her life that has led her to working at WSU.
About Dr. Wamwara
From an aspiring student seeking to learn French with the goal of becoming an interpreter in Kenya, Wamwara has evolved into a distinguished doctoral degree holder and professor of marketing at WSU. Her remarkable journey, marked by dedication to her passion, is truly inspirational.
Wamwara, an esteemed scholar, enriches the Raj Soin College of Business with her extensive expertise and academic achievements.
Possessing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Business Administration from the University of Memphis, Wamwara showcases a dedication to scholarly excellence. She furthered her academic journey by obtaining a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management.
During her tenure at Vanderbilt, she pursued a dual-concentration in management information systems and marketing, illustrating her interdisciplinary approach to business studies.
Prior to her doctoral studies, Wamwara completed her undergraduate education at LeMoyne Owen College, where she majored in computer science and minored in mathematics, laying the foundation for her future academic endeavors.
Her diverse educational background, coupled with her commitment to theoretical exploration and practical application, positions her as a valuable asset to the academic community at the Raj Soin College of Business.
“If you keep moving forward, you will find what you are good at. At the beginning, my goal was to learn French, as I wanted to be an interpreter, but I ended up here because I kept doing whatever it took to follow my passion,” Wamwara said.
Achievements
Wamwara was honored with the prestigious Frederick A. White Distinguished Professor of Professional Service Award for the 2022–2023 academic year, acknowledging her outstanding contributions to professional service and leadership within her field.
She also 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.
In 2017, Dr. Wamwara served as a Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow, collaborating with two universities in Kenya to enhance faculty development and supervise graduate students. Her expertise extended further, as she was listed on the Fulbright specialist roster as an African-region specialist.
Additionally, she held roles of significant responsibility within the academic community, serving as the secretary of the Fundraising and Marketing Committee and as treasurer of KESSA, the Kenya Scholars and Studies Association.
Engagement with Study Abroad Program
Wamwara actively advocates for WSU's study abroad programs, as she has a history of being a student of a study abroad program.
“I was 17-years-old when I first went to Madagascar for my study abroad program,” Wamwara said.
Her efforts to internationalize the Raj Soin College of Business's curriculum have been coordinated, and they have included creating an online course on international marketing and taking part in a Collaborative Online International Learning course exchange with Africa Nazarene University in Nairobi, Kenya.
In collaboration with the University Center for International Education, Wamwara has arranged seminars promoting study abroad and arranged visits by foreign visitors from a number of nations. In addition, she created and oversaw the 2019 Japan Study Abroad Initiative.
Wamwara arranged for visits to WSU by Magellan partners from Finland and Germany while serving as an advocate for study abroad programs. She took part in faculty exchange programs at Schmalkalden University and the University of Jena in Germany, Kimathi University in Kenya and Lapland University of Applied Sciences in Finland.
Wamwara’s advice
Wamwara provided advice to students about following their own dreams.
“Whatever your dream is, you are responsible to make it happen. It is not up to your parents, not up to your government or anybody else. You have to take full ownership of your goal. You will always find roadblocks, but if you are persistent, you will find your way,” Wamwara said.
