Biography: Dr. Damaris Choti is the Coordinator of Student and Alumni Programs at the African Studies Center, Michigan State University. She holds PhD and MA degrees in Educational Administration from MSU. Damaris oversees alumni and student engagement initiatives and activities for the center. She is a co-founder of MSU’s African Female Students Empowerment Program (AFSEP); advisory board member at the Greater Lansing African Female Empowerment Program (GLAFEP) and advises Africa-oriented student organizations at MSU.

Her areas of interest include educational leadership; women leadership; girls’ education and empowerment; student advising and mentorship and alumni relations. She has authored two book chapters: Learning from What Has Worked in Women School Leadership and Girls’ Education in Kenya (Lexington Books, 2021) and Where did the Girls go?: The Role of Socialization and Institutions in Silencing Female Voices (SUNY, 2015). She is a recipient of MSU’s Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen) 2022 Inspiration Award in the category of Culture of Empowerment.