Talloires Network of Engaged Universities Steering Committee

Prof. George L Openjuru is currently Vice Chancellor and Professor of Education at Gulu University. He was formerly Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Gulu University and Dean of School of Distance and Lifelong Learning, College of Education and External Studies. He was also the Head of the Department of Community Education and Extra-Mural Studies, all at Makerere University. He was an Associate Professor of Adult and Community Education. His area of specialisation and research is adult literacy education and Lifelong Learning. He holds a PhD in Education with a specific focus on adult literacy education. He has published articles in the area of adult literacy education, lifelong learning, Higher Education, Community Based Participatory Action Research and Community University Engagement. As part of his Community University Engagement, George is active in supporting civil society organizations that promote adult education in Uganda. He is a coordinator of the UNESCO Chair on Social Responsibility In Higher Education and Community University Engagement. He is the UNESCO Chair of Lifelong Learning Youth and Works at Gulu University. He was part of an East African Team that worked on the TESCEA/SPHEIR Project, focusing on enhancing graduate employability for social change in East Africa. He has coordinated several projects in the area of adult literacy education, Entrepreneurship Literacies for non-literate out-of-school youths in Uganda; he was involved with youth entrepreneurship and employability training with many universities in Uganda and UK.

Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, PhD, FGA, is the (first female) Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana. She is a Professor of Linguistics and an experienced university administrator, with over 20 years’ experience in the higher education sector. Professor Amfo has built her experience in governance through attendance of formal management and leadership programs as well as on the job training. She brings a lot of innovation and resourcefulness to her leadership positions and is adept at change management. As Vice-Chancellor, she’s leading her university to uptake technology in all its operations, while keeping people as the focus. She recently launched a seven-million-dollar digitalization program to enhance the experience of the University’s students, faculty and staff. Professor Amfo previously served as the Pro Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for Academic and Student Affairs, the Founding Dean of the School of Languages and the Head of the Department of Linguistics, of the same university. Her masters and PhD degrees, both in linguistics, are from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and her Bachelors in French and Linguistics is from the University of Ghana. Professor Amfo has acquired extensive multi-cultural experience through various professional engagements in twenty-four countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, Middle East, North America and Australia. Her passion for mentoring particularly younger professional women has driven her to organize and facilitate several capacity building training programmes in the public and private higher education sectors, and in other public and private organisations. She has been a consultant trainer for the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana and an Advisory Board member of the Coalition of People Against Sexual and Gender Based Violence and Harmful Practices (CoPASH) – A UNFPA supported programme. She is a member of many prestigious societies and organizations such as the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Commonwealth Professionals Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, German Academic Exchange Services and the International Women’s Fellowship Leadership Program. She is a pioneer fellow of the African Humanities Program (AHP) of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS). She currently serves as an assessor and a mentor on that program and has recently been elected as the inaugural President of the African Humanities Association, an offshoot of the AHP. In 2021, Professor Amfo was awarded as the GUBA (Grow Unite Build Africa) Nana Yaa Asantewaa Woman of Enlightenment for her resilience and work in academia which has created knowledge, built confidence and broken down barriers to opportunities.

Professor Denise Carvalho is a professor in Physiology and Biophysics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. She is a full professor at the Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, teaching undergraduate courses in the health area and in the graduate programs in Medicine (Endocrinology) and Biological Sciences (Physiology) at UFRJ. A reviewer of more than 20 international scientific journals, she won several awards, among them the Senior Award of the Latin American Thyroid Society 2010 and the Faz Diferença - Saúde 2011 Award, from the newspaper O Globo. A graduate of UFRJ with a cum laude diploma, she has a master’s and doctorate in Biological Sciences, both from Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF). She held post-doctorate fellowships with Hôpital Bicêtre (France) and the other from Universitá degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (Italy). She has been Director and Vice-Director at IBCCF, Academic Coordinator of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (PR-1), as well as Deputy Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies.

Professor Vincent Chang is Vice-Chancellor and President of BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has experience in international higher education and the US industry, with records in building new capabilities, new businesses, a new graduate school and a new university. His expertise is in defining strategies, translating them into high-impact actions and new opportunities, and executing them to yield desired results.

Before joining BRAC University, he served as the inaugural chair for institutional development at Chinese University of Hong Kong in China, as the founding president and planning director of University of Business and Technology in Oman (academically affiliated with Virginia Tech in the US), and as the inaugural executive dean of Peking University’s HSBC Business School, established as China’s first all-English international business school. He was instrumental in bringing this brand-new school to an internationally recognized status.

His experiences in the US span over medical imaging, energy, investment, marketing and consulting, with startup firms as well as well-known institutions such as JP Morgan, McKinsey, ExxonMobil and the US Federal Reserve.

Professor Chang holds a PhD in economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), another PhD in electrical engineering and computer sciences from University of California at Berkeley, an MPA from Harvard, an MBA from Yale, and a BS in electrical engineering from National Taiwan University.

Dr. Ignacio Sánchez is a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC I Chile). He was appointed rector in March 2010, succeeding Dr. Pedro Pablo Rosso. Then in 2015, he would be confirmed for a second term, and on March 5, 2020, he assumed his third five-year term as rector.

He completed his medical studies at UC, and later specialized in Pediatrics at the same institution. He completed a Subspecialty Program in Pediatric Respiratory Diseases at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. In 2004 he became director of the School of Medicine and in June 2008 he was elected Dean of the School of Medicine. His academic and research work has been focused mainly on the study of cystic fibrosis, asthma and lung function in children, areas in which he has already published the book "Clinical Approach to Respiratory Diseases in Children" in two editions, and more than two hundred scientific articles in international and national journals. He is also co-editor of the book “Pediatría de Meneghello”, the main publication in the field of Spanish-speaking pediatrics.

In recent years he has published a series of books on Higher Education issues and numerous articles reflecting on challenges in the area in specialized magazines in Chile and abroad. He is a permanent guest to speak at the most important forums on Higher Education. He chairs the Chilean Chapter of Catholic Universities, and is part of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities-CRUCh. In the past, he chaired the Network of Non-State Public Universities (G9). At an international level, he is Vice President of the Hemispheric University Consortium (HUC) and forms part of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Universities (IAU) and of the Governing Board of The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU).

Verity Firth is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Social Justice & Inclusion) at the University of Technology Sydney. She is currently spearheading the university’s Social Impact Framework, a whole of institution social justice strategy, the first of its kind in the Australian university sector. She is the co-lead of the Australian pilot of the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification and a strong supporter of the Talloires Network.  Verity also served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the Australian Labor Party from 2007 to 2011. During this period, she served as the Minister for Education and Training.  She was the CEO of the Public Education Foundation from 2011-2015, leading advocacy and funding for Australian public schools.

Pakiname Yousri Mamdouh holds an MA degree in Political Science from the Saint Joseph University in Beirut. Her studies have allowed her to develop an in depth understanding of development needs of the region to complement her professional experience in the field.

She is currently working as the Head of the Civic Engagement Unit, at the John D. Gerhart center at the American University in Cairo. Her work involves developing and advancing the Units’ programs nationally and regionally, and conducting strategic planning including outreach, partnerships, fundraising. Her main role is leading the efforts of institutionalizing civic education in the higher education institutions. Her main focus is working with youth from different backgrounds and providing them with the guidance and support they need to develop and accomplish their goals, while serving their communities and becoming social development agents.

She worked for almost 8 years as a Senior Development Specialist in Charge of Cooperation with European Countries in the Cabinet of the Minister of International Cooperation. As an assistant to the Minister her responsibilities included acting as a coordinator and a focal point with European Countries' Embassies in Egypt, as well as European agencies of development in addition to conducting research in relevance to development aid and cooperation between Egypt and European Countries.

Professor Peter Mathieson MBBS (Hons)(London), PhD (Cambridge), FRCP(London), FRCPE, FMedSci assumed the office of Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh in February 2018.

He was born and educated in the United Kingdom. He was the first member of his family to go to university, graduating in Medicine with First Class Honours from the University of London in 1983. He specialised in renal medicine (nephrology) and undertook research on autoimmunity leading to a PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1992. In 1995 he moved to Bristol as the foundation Professor of Renal Medicine at the University of Bristol. In 1999, he was elected to Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

In 2007, he was elected President of the Renal Association (the UK’s national specialty association for nephrologists and renal scientists) in a competitive ballot of the membership, being the youngest President in its history. He became Dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Bristol in 2008 and served six years, also becoming Director of Bristol Health Partners. In 2014 he took up the role of 15^th President of the University of Hong Kong. In 2018 he moved to his father’s birthplace, Edinburgh.

Kate Morris leads Campus Engage, on behalf of the 7 universities of Ireland. Campus Engage is based in the Irish Universities Association, which is oversee by the 7 Presidents of the Irish Universities. Kate works to enable higher education institutions embed, scale and promote civic and community engagement for societal impact; to demonstrate how higher education makes all lives better. This is achieved by lobbying Irish government and EU agencies, providing on and offline professional development services for staff; building the evidence base for ‘what works’ to inform higher education policy and practice change; and building online tech solutions to facilitate partnerships for social innovation. Kate has worked on the Talloires Network’s Regional Network Leaders Group since 2014.

Kate has over 18 years’ experience in building infrastructures to enable engagement to support decision making - putting lived experience at the heart of policy and practice change. She has worked on Irish and European wide EU Commission initiatives; Centre for Effective Public Services, Ireland; the French National Institute for Demographic Studies; and UNESCO NI.

Professor Muzvidziwa is an extensively published scholar and Vice Chancellor of Midland State University in Zimbabwe. Professor Muzvidziwa is an editorial Board member of several refereed journals such as the Journal of Social Development in Africa and Lwati Journal of Research. He has worked with reputable international organisations such as WHO, UNICEF and USAID.

His areas of interest encompass livelihoods studies, gender, migration, housing and leadership studies. Prof Muzvidziwa possesses extensive administrative experience in university education. He is a former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies (UZ) and also Dean of the Faculty of Social Science of the University of Swaziland (UNISWA), an Academic Leader for Research and Post Graduate Studies School of Social Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Senior Proctor (UZ), Warden, a two term Chairman of the Sociology Department UZ, and has served in various committees of Senate and Council at UZ, UNISWA and UKZN. He first joined UZ as a Teaching Assistant and rose through the academic ranks to become full Professor. Professor Muzvidziwa is a member of several professional and academic associations such as Anthropology Southern Africa, Pan African Anthropological Association and the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences. He is an active member of the Zimbabwe Human Factor Chapter. He is the Board of Trustees Chairman for the proposed Southern Africa Methodist University and a Board Member for the Action Institute for Environment, Health and Development Communication.

Dr. Joanna Newman MBE FRSA is Chief Executive and Secretary General of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) – the world's oldest international network of universities, dedicated to building a better world through higher education. Through international collaboration, the ACU brings universities together to advance knowledge, promote understanding, broaden minds, and improve lives. The ACU champions higher education as a cornerstone of stronger societies, supporting its members, partners, and stakeholders as they adapt to a changing world.

Joanna represents the ACU on the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s Leadership Council, and the High-level Advisory Group for Mission 4.7. She is a lay member of the Council of Cardiff University, sits on the board of the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) and is a member of the Talloires Network Steering Committee.

Joanna’s previous roles included the Vice-Principal (International) at King’s College London, Director of the UK Higher Education International Unit (now known as Universities UK International), and Head of Higher Education at the British Library. She is a Senior Research Fellow in History at King’s College London. Her most recent publication is Nearly the New World: The British West Indies and the Flight from Nazism, 1933-1945.

Patrovas Gabriel Okidi is a social inclusion advocate and Mastercard Foundation Scholar studying Statistics at Makerere University (Uganda). He currently works as a Research Analyst at the Uhuru (Independence) Institute for Social Development to support community development and improve living standards. After fleeing Oyam, Uganda as a child due to civil wars and conflicts, he returned as a young adult and started a social support project in Oyam district: “The Megwa Social Initiative” to keep young people engaged through skill development, mentorship, and economic empowerment. His continued involvement in student civic engagements led him to be selected to the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities’ Next Generation Leaders (NGL) program, where he has continuously engaged in various democracy and civic engagement work, working with his peers and with organizations including the Kettering Foundation and Mastercard Foundation. In 2022, the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Regional Leadership Program for East Africans nominated Patrovas as a young leader who has demonstrated commitment to giving back to his community, and is now thrilled to serve as Student Representative of the Talloires Network Steering Committee to advise on strategic directions, program priorities and be active ambassadors for the Network to enable it achieve its global goals and objectives.

Nancy Mma-Ngaare Mba recently graduated with a first class in BSc. Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Ashesi University in June 2023. Despite being an Engineering Student, her versatility extends beyond the technical realm, allowing her to excel in various domains. Known for her forward-thinking problem-solving skills and possessing a deep-rooted passion for the transformative potential of technology, she is recognized for her ability to effect meaningful change. Nancy is the first recipient of the prestigious 2023 Ashesi Presidential Award which is the highest award a student can get at Ashesi University. She has similarly been awarded by the Ashesi University Mastercard Foundation for her transformative leadership and the indelible mark she has made on the entire Ashesi community and beyond. Leading the way as the founder of Magnificent Smiles Foundation (MSmiles), a youth-centered startup employing a mobilization strategy through undergraduate student clubs and associations, she fosters collaboration among a diverse group of undergraduate students to deliver essential support to disadvantaged individuals at orphanages and foster homes in Ghana. With a strong passion for research and knowledge generation, she has actively pursued opportunities to engage in impactful research endeavors. Her involvement in the partnership project between Ashesi and McGill University, where she worked as a Summer Research Assistant, allowed her to delve into the study of experiential exposures that boost entrepreneurship among Mastercard Foundation Scholars. In her new role as a student representative of the Talloiries Network, she remains open to forging connections and engaging in collaborations that have the potential to create a positive and lasting impact. 

Mathew Johnson, President, Albion College (United States)
Tony Monaco, President, Tufts University (United States)*
Haifa Jamal Al-Lail, President, Effat University (Saudi Arabia)
Rajesh Tandon, Founder, Society for Participatory Research in Asia (India)
Lisa Anderson, President, American University in Cairo (Egypt)
Ernest Aryeetey, Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana (Ghana)
Muhammad Asghar, National University of Sciences and Technology (Pakistan)
Lawrence Bacow, President, Tufts University (United States)*
Scott Cowen, President, Tulane University (United States)
John DeGioia, President, Georgetown University (United States)
Juan Ramón de la Fuente, President, International Association of Universities
Ester Albano Garcia, President, University of the East (Philippines)
Mark Gearan, President, Hobart and William Smith Colleges (United States)*
Brenda Gourley, Vice-Chancellor, The Open University (United Kingdom)
Mabel O. Imbuga, former Vice Chancellor, Joma Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya)
Mónica Jiménez de la Jara, President, Catholic University of Temuco (Chile)
Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, Founding President, Aga Khan University (Pakistan)
Sara Ladrón de Guevara, Rector, Universidad Veracruzana (Mexico)**
Lorraine McIlrath, Coordinator, Community Knowledge Initiative, National University of Ireland Galway (Ireland)
José Ignacio Moreno León, Rector, Universidad Metropolitana (Venezuela)
Goolam Mohamedbhai, Secretary-General, Association of African Universities
Olive Mugenda, Vice-Chancellor, Kenyatta University (Kenya)
Sari Nusseibeh, President, Al-Quds University (Palestine)
Santa J. Ono, President, University of British Columbia (Canada)
Andrew Petter, President and Vice-Chancellor, Simon Fraser University (Canada)
Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Pretoria (South Africa)**
Jan Reid, Vice-Chancellor, University of Western Sydney (Australia)**
José María Sanz Martínez, Rector, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain)
Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui, Vice Chancellor, Sukkur IBA University (Pakistan)
Sharifah Hapsah Shahabudin, Vice-Chancellor, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Jerome Slamat, Director, South African Higher Education Community Engagement Forum
Nieves Tapia, Founder and Director, Latin American Center for Service-Learning
Tim Tong, President, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong)
Andrew Vann, Vice-Chancellor, Charles Sturt University (Australia)
Rafael Velasco, Rector, Universidad Católica de Córdoba (Argentina)
Adam Weinberg, President, Denison University (United States)
John Wood, Secretary General, Association of Commonwealth Universities

* = Previously served as Chair
** = Previously served as Vice-Chair