Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg

Assistant Professor
University of San Francisco

Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg is an assistant professor in the Politics department.  She holds a Ph.D. and Masters degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor's degree in Politics from Whitman College.

Her research and teaching interests center on issues of gender, women's politics, ethnic politics, human rights, political economy, and development.  She has published articles on the women’s movement in Africa as well as the impact of U.S. anti-terror legislation on anti-terror legislation in Kenya.  She is currently writing a book on the impact of ethnic politics on the struggle for women’s rights legislation in Africa with a particular emphasis on the Kenyan experience. 

Dr Kamau-Rutenberg is also the founder and executive director of Akili Dada, an international non-profit organization working to ensure that the next generation of Kenyan women leaders includes women from disadvantaged economic backgrounds.  Akili Dada offers competitive and comprehensive scholarships to bright girls from needy Kenyan families while connecting them to a network of professional women who serve as mentors.  As part of her work with Akili Dada she mentors USF students who undertake directly supervised internships with the organization.

In addition to Akili Dada Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg has worked with various development organizations across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe and has had opportunities to travel throughout Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia.  She is fluent in English, Swahili and Kikuyu, and proficient in French and Shona.