KESID Leadership
KESID Executive
Our board is composed of industry leaders with extensive experience dedicated to furthering opportunities for Kenyan Students. The board serves to organize leadership events, establish exceptional accounting and financial procedures, and broaden the experiences of Kenyan students. Through their skills and collaborative efforts, they were able to fundraise over $10,000 within their first month of launching to aid students in transitions heightened by the pandemic.
Jerono P. Rotich, Ph.D.
CEO and Founder of KESID. Professor of Kinesiology & Recreation Administration at North Carolina Central University & President of Kenya Scholars & Studies Association (KESSA)
Jesse G. Muchai, Ph.D
CFO of KESID Engineer at Cummins Inc. Indianapolis, IN
KESID Board of Directors
Our board is composed of industry leaders with extensive experience dedicated to furthering opportunities for Kenyan Students. The board serves to organize leadership events, establish exceptional accounting and financial procedures, and broaden the experiences of Kenyan students. Through their skills and collaborative efforts, they were able to fundraise over $10,000 within their first month of launching to aid students in transitions heightened by the pandemic.
Jennifer Willey
Department of Criminal Justice at North Carolina Central University and Founder of Girls Empowerment Project in Nairobi, Kenya.
Erastus Karanja, Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Business at North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC
Joseph Langat, Ph.D
Professor of Chemistry, at Florida State College at Jacksonville, Florida
Janet M'mbaha, Ph.D
Associate Professor of Health Sciences and Human Performance at Alabama A&M University, AL
Wangũi Gathua, Ph.D.,
LPSC, Counseling, Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona
Patrick O Mose,
Ph.D- Ohio Uinversity
Eng. Walter Wanyama PH.D.
Hydraulic Systems Engineer, Caterpillar Inc, North Carolina
Prof. Charles G. Manyara
Radford University
Ms. Miriam Mbotha
Health Care Provider, Idaho
Patrick Ochieng, Ph.D
Chair & Associate Professor of Chemistry at Oakwood University
Peter Theuri, Ph.D
Associate Professor of Accounting at North Carolina A&T State University (A&T) in Greensboro, North Carolina
SYLVESTER MAKOBI
Doctor of Music in Music Literature and Performance Indiana University
GILBERT H. MAKOMERE
Master of Science Human Development and Family Science-Oklahoma State University. Business Computer Systems Management-North Hennepin Community College. At Lifeworks Services Inc.
ERIC KIGEN
Ph.D student human health and performance science. Middle Tennessee state university.Currently an Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, Northwestern State University. His primary research interests are in cardiovascular, environmental, and exercise physiology. With his background in both clinical and human performance, he has an overarching desire in investigating human response and adaptation to extreme environments, especially the heat. In addition, he is aspiring to expand his research to aging adults. Dr. Erick Kigen was born and raised in Eldoret, Kenya. He came to the United States in his early 20s through track and cross-country scholarship. He was recruited by Belmont University, NCAA D1 college in Nashville Tennessee. He earned All-Region Academic honors, Deans list, and won OVC 800 M championship his senior year, in 2014. Dr. Kigen studied nursing at Belmont University, and it is at that point that Dr. Kigen became interested in human physiology. He took classes such as Anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and did his clinicals at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Kigen did his clinicals at geriatrics, orthopedics, Palliative care, oncology, psychiatry, pediatrics, and Cardiac progressive units. Upon completing his Bachelor of Science degree, Dr. Kigen decided to follow his passion in Exercise physiology. Dr. Kigen pursued and earned a MA.Ed in Human Performance and Sports Science/Exercise Science from Tennessee State University in May 2018. In the Fall of 2018, Dr. Erick Kigen pursued a doctorate degree and earned a Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance/exercise science from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), in 2023. At MTSU, Dr. Kigen worked as a Graduate teaching assistant and was involved in various research projects such as A cross-sectional study analyzing sit to stand power and functional performance in older adults at a nearby assisted living facility, and also got experience in studies using Underwater Treadmill. It was a great exposure considering his holistic approach to exercise and healthcare.
KESID Student Leaders
These are the current distinguished students are leaders on their respective capacities and embody the leadership goals of KESID. Student leaders serve as liaisons for the executive management team and Board of Trustees, using their skills to promote and organize leadership events, communicate needs of members, and serve as representatives of KESID.
JIMMY OCHIENG'
President
a PhD Candidate in The Media School at Indiana University-Bloomington. His research has been published in Health Communication, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, International Journal of Press/Politics, Oxford Handbook of Kenyan Politics, Oxford Handbook of African Politics, African Journalism Studies, Newspaper Research Journal, and International Journal of Communication. His research interests include political communication, media effects and political behavior, vulnerability to false narratives and mediation and reconciliation. Jimmy has worked in the mediation field supporting peace processes in Kenya (Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation process) and Mozambique (Peace Process Secretariat).
nancy rotich
vice presedent
a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry at Miami University and an alumnus of the University of Nairobi. Her research interest is in membrane proteins and their critical role in various cellular processes. She focuses on elucidating the intricate structures and dynamic functions of membrane proteins, with a particular interest in ion channels and antimicrobial peptides. Nancy aims to contribute to the understanding of how these proteins work at the molecular level, which can potentially pave the way for novel drug development and therapeutic interventions.
JOHN KIMITA
Event cordinator
a Master’s Student at the University of Arkansas; he is committed to the pursuit of excellence in music performance, with a particular emphasis on choral conducting. John's musical journey began at Kenyatta University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music, laying the groundwork for his current musical activities. He currently serves as the President of the Students Chapter of the American Choral Directors’ Association at the University of Arkansas, exhibiting his leadership and passion for choral music. He is an active choral musician and conductor, a founder member of the African Cultural Choir and Enkare Kito, where he was also the technical director in both ensembles. Additionally, he plays an integral role in the creative process as he composes and arranges both traditional and contemporary African pop songs, ensuring the preservation and evolution of this vibrant musical heritage.
sheila cherono
student leader
a registered Graduate Engineer with over 10 years’ experience in the industry and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She has worked as an Aircraft Systems Engineer for Kenya Airways, Nairobi, and Qatar Airways, Doha. She has a strong knowledge in the identification and management of aircraft reliability risks with an eye toward minimizing operational disruptions, upholding service & safety levels, and reducing maintenance costs. She is a Research Assistant/PhD Student, Mechanical Engineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, where she is currently doing research on Advanced Energy Materials involving the fabrication and characterization of thin films, nanomaterials, semiconductors, supercapacitors, hydrogen technologies, photocatalysis, and electrochemical analysis. She is the Chair of the Student and Postdoc Council (SPC) at the Centre for Electrochemical Dynamics and Reactions on Surfaces (CEDARS). Sheilah is a dedicated Engineer who easily adapts to new technologies with enthusiasm, and she is an adventurous nature lover who likes to hike and dance.
tymon munasia
kenyan student representative
a Bachelor’s student at the Multimedia University of Kenya studying Film and Animation. His research interests include finding distinct and unique film making techniques that can better enhance the methods through which Kenyan content is shared as well as finding ways to better take Kenyan talents and stories worldwide while still maintaining the authenticity, culture and heritage of the people of Kenya. This has led to him creating his own production company, “Montyphillic Studios” aimed at better exploiting the unexplored filming techniques in the Kenyan film space to create a better viewing experience for the Kenyan people as well as the worldwide audience as a whole.
lynne ombati
visual content manager
a first-year graduate student pursuing a degree in Arts Administration at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington. With a strong passion for event planning and management, she is genuinely thrilled to witness ideas transforming into reality and actively participate in the creative process. Beyond her academic pursuits, she finds joy in the artistry of hand-lettering and the world of graphic design, allowing her to infuse creativity into every facet of her life.
Past KESID Student Leaders
These are the past distinguished students are leaders on their respective capacities and embody the leadership goals of KESID. Student leaders serve as liaisons for the executive management team and Board of Trustees, using their skills to promote and organize leadership events, communicate needs of members, and serve as representatives of KESID.
Gilbert Makomere
President
Master of Science Human Development and Family Science-Oklahoma State University. Business Computer Systems Management-North Hennepin Community College. At Lifeworks Services Inc.
Moffat Juma
Publicity Coordinator
Chemistry Ph.D student
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Sylvester Makobi
Organizing Secretary
Doctor of Music in Music Literature and Performance Indiana University
Sylvia Ayieko
Secretary
Doctoral student in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences The University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston
Anne Njathi
Ph.D Student, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Kelvin Waruiru Kangethe
Information Technology, New Jersey
Nancy Chepchumba Murtisya
Chemistry Ph.D student Miami University, Ohio
Erick Kigen
Ph.D student human health and performance science. Middle Tennessee state university.Currently an Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, Northwestern State University. His primary research interests are in cardiovascular, environmental, and exercise physiology. With his background in both clinical and human performance, he has an overarching desire in investigating human response and adaptation to extreme environments, especially the heat. In addition, he is aspiring to expand his research to aging adults. Dr. Erick Kigen was born and raised in Eldoret, Kenya. He came to the United States in his early 20s through track and cross-country scholarship. He was recruited by Belmont University, NCAA D1 college in Nashville Tennessee. He earned All-Region Academic honors, Deans list, and won OVC 800 M championship his senior year, in 2014. Dr. Kigen studied nursing at Belmont University, and it is at that point that Dr. Kigen became interested in human physiology. He took classes such as Anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and did his clinicals at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Kigen did his clinicals at geriatrics, orthopedics, Palliative care, oncology, psychiatry, pediatrics, and Cardiac progressive units. Upon completing his Bachelor of Science degree, Dr. Kigen decided to follow his passion in Exercise physiology. Dr. Kigen pursued and earned a MA.Ed in Human Performance and Sports Science/Exercise Science from Tennessee State University in May 2018. In the Fall of 2018, Dr. Erick Kigen pursued a doctorate degree and earned a Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance/exercise science from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), in 2023. At MTSU, Dr. Kigen worked as a Graduate teaching assistant and was involved in various research projects such as A cross-sectional study analyzing sit to stand power and functional performance in older adults at a nearby assisted living facility, and also got experience in studies using Underwater Treadmill. It was a great exposure considering his holistic approach to exercise and healthcare.
Lynda Naswa Wasike
Ph.D Texas Tech University.