Dr. Gladys Rotich has been elected as the new Dean of the School of Communication and Development Studies (SCDS), to serve a two-year term.
The election presided over by the Registrar, Dr. Aggrey Wanyama, saw Dr. Rotich receive the winning vote, assuming leadership of SCDS with a pledge to advance the school’s growth and academic excellence.
Since September 2022, Dr. Rotich has served as Chair of the Department of Development Studies, where she spearheaded the full implementation of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, streamlining academic and administrative processes from admission to graduation.
While presenting Dr. Rotich with her Deanship certificate, Registrar Dr. Aggrey Wanyama congratulated her on the victory and expressed confidence in her ability to steer the school to greater heights. He also commended both candidates for their dedication to service and for upholding a peaceful, transparent, and democratic election.
In her acceptance speech on Thursday, September 18, 2025, Dr. Rotich outlined her vision for the school, highlighting collaboration, research, innovation, and enhanced visibility as the key pillars of her leadership.
She reaffirmed her commitment to inclusive leadership, noting that her priority will be to build on the school’s strong foundation and further strengthen its reputation as a hub of academic excellence.
The new Dean also highlighted her dedication to supporting student growth through mentorship, research opportunities, and the creation of an environment that nurtures creativity and critical thinking.
“This is a good opportunity for me to foster a collaborative and united school, where every voice matters and every effort contributes to our shared success,” she said.
With the rollout of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) at the university level on the horizon, Dr. Rotich stressed the importance of preparing faculty, students, and programs to align with the competency-based model. She noted that this transition will ensure graduates acquire the skills and knowledge needed to meet both industry demands and community needs.
The outgoing Dean, Prof. Sakwa, congratulated Dr. Rotich on her election and pledged his support in facilitating a smooth transition. He commended staff and students for their cooperation during his tenure and urged them to extend the same support to the incoming Dean.