Prof. Laban P. Ayiro PhD

Vice Chancellor - Daystar University

The Vice Chancellor Daystar University, Professor Laban Peter Ayiro has an illustrious career in education, research and leadership. His foundations in education leadership stemmed from being a Chemistry teacher and Principal of several High Schools. Later, he became the Provincial Director of Education, Deputy Director of Staff Training (Kenya Education Management Institute), Senior Deputy Director for Policy and Planning at the Ministry Headquarters and Senior Deputy Director for Research and Curriculum Development at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development. He is a Senior Fulbright Scholar, and between 2011- 2012, engaged in research and teaching at the University of Texas A&M. He is a thought leader in consultancy, organizational leadership and performance.  Prof. Ayiro worked at Moi University as Director, Quality Assurance and Standards and holds a wide research and publication track of over 20 publications. Administratively, he was Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Planning and Development and as the Ag. Vice Chancellor Moi University. A peer- reviewer on Quality for the Commission of University Education in Kenya. Prof. Ayiro is a full member of the Kenya Institute of Management, The African Network of Internalization of Education, The Academy of Human Resource Development and Women Educational Researchers of Kenya. 

Prof. Levi Obonyo:

Dean School of Communication

Host- Daystar University Annual Conference 2025 (HOST)

Levi Obonyo is a Professor of Media and Communication and Dean of the School of Communication at Daystar University. He comes from a print media journalism background and worked with various publications before joining academia. Prof Obonyo builds extensive experience in communication and media practice, strategy and policy formulation. He has worked in these fields for over three decades, seamlessly combining practice and theory of communication and media. He continues to engage in policy formulation and enforcement in the media sector in Kenya. Prof Obonyo has served as an external examiner for many universities in Kenya and internationally. His research interests include media policy, the history of media, and cartooning. He is keen on the intersection between scholarship and practice. He has consulted for County governments in Kenya, for government ministries, USAID, GIZ, and the Media Council of Kenya, among others. Prof. Obonyo is a media critic, a newspaper columnist, and co-authored Journalists and the Rule of Law among other notable media publications. He is an Associate Editor for the Annals of International Communication Association (ICA).

Dr. Lydia Ouma Radoli

Associate Dean School of Communication

Chair- Daystar University Annual Conference 2025 Organizing Committee (CONVENER)

Dr. Lydia Radoli is a former Broadcast Journalist, Social Researcher, Senior Media and Communication Lecturer and Associate Dean in the School of Communication at Daystar University. She holds an Erasmus Mundus Tripartite master’s in human Rights Practice (Roehampton-UK, Gothenburg-Sweden and Tromso-Norway Universities) and a PhD focused on Media Migration and Development from the Brandenburg University of Technology - Cottbus, Germany. She has been a critical mind in the Media Council of Kenya policy reviews including the Betting Taskforce and the Code of Ethics for the Practice of Journalists. She was visiting Scholar at the Brandenburg University and completed a Research Fellowship on Trauma Journalism at the Leuphana Institute of Advanced Studies in Culture and Society (LIAS-CAS) at Leuphana University in Luneburg, Germany. A fellow of the African Good Governance Network (AGGN). She has membership in notable professional bodies: The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), Media Council of Kenya (MCK), Kenya Editors Guild (KEG), International Association of Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) and the International Communication Association (ICA). She serves as a reviewer for Annuals of ICA, Frontiers in Communication, Journalism, and the Journal for African Cinemas. Her research interests are in Trauma Journalism, Constructs of Media and AI, Human Rights, Digital Media.

Dr. Pamela Juma

Deputy Director -Research Innovation Entrepreneurship and Commercialization

Chair- Scientific Sub- Committee (Co-Convener)

Dr. Pamela Juma is a health professional with over 15 years of experience leading academic and research programs. She is currently the Deputy Director of Research Innovation, Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship, as well as a Senior Lecturer at Daystar University. Her expertise spans health systems and policy, community health, reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health, and non-communicable disease prevention. Dr. Juma has strong experience in strengthening research capacity and has published over 35 articles in peer-reviewed journals and written three book chapters. She has held significant roles at the Presbyterian University of East Africa, London School of Economics, African Population and Health Research Center, Aga Khan University, and Great Lakes University of Kisumu. She has collaborated extensively with the Ministry of Health and partners on health system initiatives, including program evaluations, policy development, and training health managers. Her work is characterized by a commitment to improving health outcomes through research and policy analysis. Dr. Juma holds a master’s degree in Community Health and Development and a PhD in Nursing from the University of Ottawa, Canada.

Dr. Evvone Kiptinness Mwangale

Lecturer Strategic and Organizational Communication (STOC), School of Communication

Chair, Budget and Financing Sub-Committee

Dr. Evonne Mwangale Kiptinness is a lecturer, researcher and curriculum developer at Daystar University, where she mentors future communication professionals. With a Ph.D. in Communication and over a decade of experience, she specializes in strategic communication, social behavior change, and knowledge management. Beyond academia, Evonne is a seasoned consultant in public health research, having led impact projects with organizations such as Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, WHO and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. She has successfully conducted complex evaluations and assessments, fostering collaboration among key stakeholders in global health and development including Oxfam, FAO, IFAD and Palladium. Her extensive work in development has strengthened policies and practices in health, agriculture, and gender equity. Passionate about bridging research and practice, she continues to leverage communication as a tool for social transformation and sustainable development. 

Grace Mbogo-Liyai

Research and Protocol Officer-Vice Chancellor's Office

Chair- Secretariat- Sub- Committee

Grace Mbogo is an accomplished professional with expertise in communication, protocol, project management, and research. She contributes significantly to advancing institutional visibility and building meaningful collaborations with over 15 years of experience in corporate and non-profit sectors. At Daystar University, Grace plays a key role in supporting research initiatives, including proposal development, grant management, curriculum design, research innovations, and data analysis. As a protocol specialist, she oversees the planning and hosting of high-profile delegates, ensuring seamless coordination while enhancing the university’s public positioning. Grace is known for her ability to bridge disciplines, and structure information for accessibility helping to streamline complex processes. She specializes in structuring information for clarity, facilitating collaboration, and advancing research capacity and visibility. She holds a master’s degree in Corporate Communication and is a PhD candidate in Knowledge Management. Additionally, she is a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), an Etiquette Specialist, and a trained Image Consultant.