UW’s Nganga Completing Fulbright Experience in Kenya

Lydiah Nganga, a professor of elementary and early childhood education in the University of Wyoming College of Education’s School of Teacher Education, is completing her Fulbright U.S. Scholar semester at United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Her award runs through June and focuses on a comparative study of how democracy and citizenship are taught in higher education across Kenya and the United States.

During her time at USIU-A’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nganga has immersed herself in collaborative teaching, research and institutional exchange. Her Fulbright project -- “Cross-cultural Perspectives on Education for Democracy and Citizenship” -- examines the teaching strategies university faculty members use to foster civic responsibility, critical thinking and global citizenship in students.

“This experience has shown me the power of international exchange in building shared civic values and global solutions,” Nganga says.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Nganga has contributed to multiple institutional initiatives. She co-facilitated a themed section on political socialization, democracy and civic responsibility in an introductory politics course in the Department of International Relations. She also served as a guest lecturer on topics such as gender in education, democratic citizenship and comparative politics.

Additionally, Nganga has facilitated faculty development workshops; conducted postgraduate seminars on academic publishing; and participated in curriculum review sessions aligned with democracy education. These focus groups are informed by her ongoing research and emphasize reflective practice as a key component of professional development in higher education.

Beyond the classroom, Nganga has served as an academic ambassador for UW, introducing students and faculty members at USIU-A to UW’s global education initiatives and fostering new institutional partnerships.

“The University of Wyoming isn’t just producing great educators; it’s a place that welcomes international collaboration and contributes to solving global social issues,” she says.

Key Fulbright outcomes include:

-- Publications and editorial leadership: Nganga has been invited to serve as guest editor for a 2026 special themed issue of the Journal of Social Studies Research, focusing on democracy and global civic education.

-- Book development: She has a book under consideration with Teachers College Press on Indigenous histories and curriculum decolonization, integrating perspectives from Kenya and Wyoming’s Wind River Indian Reservation.

-- Research dissemination: She presented initial findings from her Fulbright project to fellow Fulbright Scholars in Kenya at update sessions hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, and to USIU-A students and faculty through campus workshops.

-- Cross-national scholarship: She is co-writing a series of scholarly articles with Kenyan colleagues on democracy, civic engagement and comparative education systems.

-- Mentorship and capacity building: She led academic writing workshops for graduate students and emerging scholars at USIU-A.

Nganga’s Fulbright is enhancing UW’s profile abroad while bringing global insights home. She will return to Wyoming in June with new teaching strategies, cross-cultural research data and strengthened institutional ties.

“Working across continents has deepened my understanding of what it means to educate for justice, equity and democratic citizenship,” she says. “This Fulbright has reaffirmed my commitment to preparing educators who can think globally and act locally.”

In her remaining time at USIU-Africa, Nganga will continue collaborating with faculty members on her research initiatives and will lead a workshop for students in May titled “Diasporic Citizenship: Rethinking Global Belonging in Higher Education -- A Global Perspective.” The session will bring together students from diverse backgrounds to explore how higher education can cultivate democratic citizenship through an inclusive and global lens.

As migration, displacement and transnational ties reshape the meaning of belonging, the workshop centers on the experiences of diasporic and transnational youth navigating multiple identities.

“In today’s global context marked by inequality and democratic backsliding, it is essential to center these voices and redefine higher education as a space for justice, dialogue and civic possibility,” Nganga says.

Nganga aims to carry these global insights into her ongoing research and teaching at UW’s College of Education, deepening her comparative work and fostering new scholarly collaborations. She says her Fulbright experience has reaffirmed the transformative power of cross-cultural engagement in advancing inclusive, democratic education and preparing future educators to lead with justice, purpose and global awareness.