The Update (Behold, I am doing something new)
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Date
2017-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
One of my final tasks as the outgoing Principal is to
introduce my successor, a responsibility I am happy
and honoured to fulfill. Rev. Prof. Stephen Mbugua Ngari
is a Catholic priest of the diocese of Nakuru. He earned his
doctorate in Educational Psychology from Egerton University
in
2000,
and
before
that
had
attended
St.
John
Fish-
er College and the Rochester Institute of Technology in the
United States, as well as St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary
right here in Lang’ata. He has been on the staff of Egerton
University for over 20 years, serving in many different capacities:
as lecturer, department chair, Catholic chaplain,
dean of students, and most recently Director of University
Welfare Services. Over the years he has also worked
closely with the Commission for University Education,
and was a panel member for many university visitations.
Fr. Stephen’s appointment is innovative in many
ways. He will, I believe, be Tangaza’s first Kenyan-born
head. According to the decision of the Board of Trustees and
Governing Council, he will not be called “Principal” but
“Vice Chancellor Designate”, as an indication of how close
we seem to be to full recognition as a Kenyan university.
Yet judging from the questions I have been asked, per-
July 2017
haps what members of the Tangaza family find most
surprising is that Fr. Stephen, a diocesan priest, will
now be heading an institution that began as the “Theological
Centre for Religious”. All of his predecessors
have been from one of the member congregations!
But although he is not a religious himself, he is
very committed to helping Tangaza maintain and en-
hance its original mission, vision and values, and the special
synergy that arises from the interaction of so many
religious charisms. Indeed, after interviewing him extensively,
the Board of Trustees and Governing Council
became convinced that he is the right choice for this
particular moment in Tangaza’s history. With his extensive
knowledge and experience of Kenyan tertiary education,
and his close relationship with the Commission,
he should be able to guide us effectively through the
concluding stages of our transition to university status.
Thus the Lord is doing “something new” and creative
at Tangaza with the appointment of Fr. Stephen. I
encourage us all to give him our full support and prayers.
Fraternally,
Description
Keywords
Behold, I am doing something new, ISMM New Programmes, Let us Journey Together, A Busy Week