Professional History: Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg PhD is currently a Senior Fellow at the Ford Foundation and Founding Executive Director of Black women in Executive Leadership (B-WEL). She was previously and Executive in Residence and Executive Director of the Rise program at Schmidt Futures and also served as Director of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) which works towards inclusive, agriculture driven prosperity for Africa, by strengthening the production and dissemination of gender responsive agricultural research and innovation.

Wanjiru also founded and served as Executive Director of Akili Dada, an award-winning leadership incubator that invests in high-achieving young women from under-resourced families, who are passionate about driving change in their communities.

She began her career as an assistant professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco and has taught at Hekima University College, a constituent college of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Wanjiru has received widespread recognition for her work, including being honored as a White House 'Champion of Change' by the Obama Administration, named one of the '100 Most Influential Africans', '100 most Reputable Africans', and a Ford Foundation 'Champion of Democracy'. She was awarded the United Nations Intercultural Innovation Award, and has been named one of Kenya’s 'Top 40 Women Under Age 40'.

Academic and professional credentials: B.A. in Politics; Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington
M.A. in Political Science; University of Minnesota
Ph.D. in Political Science, International Relations, Gender Studies, African History; University of Minnesota
Honoris Causa; Whitman College University, Virginia

Programs: Senior Fellow at the Ford Foundation