By John Ikani
A Kenyan-born academic has become the youngest black Professor at the UK’s prestigious Oxford University, the educational institution says.
Patricia Kingori is also one of the youngest women to ever be awarded a full professorship in Oxford’s 925-year history.
Reacting to her appointment, Professor Kingori, a Sociologist who specializes in the experiences of frontline health workers, expressed gratitude to the many people who have inspired and supported her so far.
According to her: “To have my body of work recognized in this way is a great honor, and I am deeply grateful to the many people who have contributed to my success.”
Ms. Kingori, who was raised on the Caribbean island of St Kitts according to a local news source, has been described as a “trailblazer” and a “woman of firsts” by the university’s Somerville College.
The Senior Research Fellow has notable awards and achievements under her belt, more notably the award for historic distinction in recognition of the quality and global impact of her research on academia and beyond.
“She is currently the recipient of the prestigious Wellcome Senior Investigator award and leads an interdisciplinary team of researchers exploring global concerns around Fakes, Fabrications, and Falsehoods in global health,” Somerville highlighted.
As of January of 2021, only 155 out of more than 23,000 university professors in the UK were black, according to official figures.
