Name: Dr. Benson M. Mwangi
Position: Senior Lecturer
School: Pure, Applied & Health Sciences
Department: Department of Physical and Biological Sciences
Email: bmmwangi@mut.ac.ke
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Benson M. Mwangi is a Senior Lecturer, Department of Physical and Biological Sciences, School of Pure, Applied and Health Sciences, Murang’a University of Technology. He is also the Director, Quality Assurance and Performance Management in the University. He completed his O-level studies at Murang’a High School, where he attained Division I in 1978, and A-level studies at Muhoho High School where he attained 2 Principals and 1 sub-diary in 1980. He then proceeded to the University of Nairobi where he studied Zoology and Botany and graduated with a 2nd Class Honours (Upper Division) in 1985. In 1992, he graduated with a Master’s degree in Aquatic Ecology from Kenyatta University and later in 2000 with a PhD in Limnology from Vienna University, Austria. He also has a Postgraduate Diploma in Limnology from the International Postgraduate Graduate Course in Limnology from Mondsee, Austria.
Dr. Mwangi began his career as a Fisheries officer in 1986 at Kiganjo Trout Farm, where his main role was rearing of trout fingerings for riverine stocking and distribution to farmers. In 1988, he joined Kenyatta University as Graduate Assistant, rising through the ranks to Senior Lecturer in 2013. At KU, he chaired the Board for Undergraduate studies for the School of Pure and Applied Sciences for over 10 years. In 2014, he joined University of Embu, where he was immediately appointed Chairman, Department of Biological Sciences. Later, in 2016, he joined Murang’a University of Technology and appointed Director, Quality Assurance and Performance Management. As a Director, Dr Mwangi has strived to instil a culture of excellence in delivery of academic services in the University through several monitoring and assessment strategies such as lecture take-off, lecture progress, exam administration and quality, student-lecturer evaluation, exit surveys and training of staff on various pedagogical aspects. Dr. Mwangi has been very active in research having won over 8 grants, supervised over 20 M.Sc. students to completion and 2 PhD students. He has published widely in internationally referred journals. As a Director, Quality Assurance, Dr. Mwangi continues to be highly enthusiastic on the improvement of quality delivery of academic services at Murang’a University of Technology.
EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION:
2000: Vienna University, Austria PhD (Nat. Sc.)-Limnology
1995: Austrian Academy of Sciences, Mondsee Postgraduate Diploma in Limnology
1992: Kenyatta University M.Sc. in Aquatic Science
1985: University of Nairobi B.Sc. in Zoology & Botany
1980: Muhoho High School A-Level (Form VI) Certificate
1978: Murang’a High School O-Level (Form IV) Certificate
SPECIALIZATION/RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Water quality, fish ecology, macro invertebrates, and ecology of inland waters, wetlands and STEM Education with reference to teaching of Biology.