President William Ruto has appointed Professor Patrick Verkooijen as the Chancellor of the University of Nairobi (UoN), according to a Gazette Notice published on Friday. The newly appointed Chancellor is set to serve for a five-year term, commencing from January 12, 2024.
He succeeds Professor Amukowa Anangwe, who had been fulfilling the duties of acting Chancellor.
Prior the appointment, the professor held the position of Chair at the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies within the university.
Verkooijen also serves as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), a global organization committed to offering remedies for mitigating the impacts of climate change on a worldwide scale.
Throughout his career, Verkooijen has engaged with heads of state and government across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States. Overseeing more than six Summits of global leaders, his efforts have focused on advancing the agenda for climate adaptation.
Prior to joining the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), the professor assumed the role of the World Bank Group’s special representative on Climate Change. Additionally, Verkooijen held the position of Professor of Practice of Sustainable Development Diplomacy at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in the United States.
In recognition of his accomplishments, the University of Nairobi (UoN) conferred upon him an honorary doctorate in 2012 for his outstanding contributions to advancing climate resilience in Africa.
Verkooijen holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Wageningen University, a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University, a Master of Philosophy from the University of Amsterdam, and an environmental degree from the University of Utrecht Applied Sciences.
