By CTW
Professor Naom Nyarigoti, Associate Professor of English and Linguistics and the Chair of the Department of Languages and Literature, embodies USIU-Africa’s commitment to providing a personalized learning environment, ensuring dedicated and meaningful faculty-student interactions. A seasoned scholar, educator, and academic leader, Prof. Nyarigoti brings over two decades of experience in teaching, research, and service to the university and the wider community.
She holds a PhD in English Language and Linguistics from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. She also earned her Master’s degree in English Language and Linguistics from the same institution and a Bachelor of Education (Arts) in English Language and Literature from Moi University, among other professional qualifications.
At USIU-Africa, Prof Nyarigoti has served in various leadership and governance roles, including member of the University Senate, Chair and Vice Chair of the Faculty Council. She has played a key role in curriculum development and accreditation processes. Prof Nyarigoti has created opportunities for international non-English speaking students through the establishment of an IELTS Testing Center, the establishment of the USIU-Africa English Language Proficiency Test (as an option for language proficiency certification), and the introduction of the intensive English language course to enable non-English speaking students improve their language proficiency. The department also offers short courses in Chinese, French, Spanish, Kiswahili, Kenya Sign Language, and soon German. These short-course opportunities are not limited to USIU-Africa students only, but are open to all.
Prof. Nyarigoti has published widely in peer-reviewed journals exploring topics such as indigenous language teaching, language in education, literacy, multilingualism, language and gender, and language in health. She has made several presentations at local and international conferences. She is an enthusiast of indigenous language preservation and has been working in collaboration with Michigan State University and other institutions to promote the same through annual workshops in Kenya. Her book ‘Introduction to the grammar of EkeGusii’ is another piece of evidence for the passion. Her most recent publication is the book titled: Academic Writing for College Students, a great book for college-level academic writing skills. She also has a passion for creative writing and is the author of the Novel: The Broken Promise.
Beyond academia, Prof. Nyarigoti serves as an external examiner, graduate and postgraduate supervisor, member of a professional body, school board member, and church leader. Prof. Nyarigoti continues to make a meaningful impact at USIU-Africa and beyond, inspiring students and colleagues alike.
