Prof. Stephen Gaya Agong is a Professor of Horticulture, the Director of the Blue Economy Research Institute, and the founding Vice-Chancellor of the Jaramogi Odinga University Science and Technology (JOOUST). He is currently the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Mount Kenya University. He had BSc and MSc in Agriculture from the University of Nairobi, Kenya and obtained PhD in Agricultural Science from Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany under a DAAD PhD Scholarship scheme, and a postdoctoral at Hannover University and Okayama University. He has wide work, professional, leadership, and management experiences having served as a member of the Governing Council of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS); Director Kisumu Local Interaction Platform (KLIP); Principal and Professor of Horticulture, Bondo University College; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Planning, Research and Extension Services, Maseno University, Kenya; Executive Director the AAS; Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Planning and Development, JKUAT, Kenya; Professor of Horticulture, Maseno University; Secretary-General of Plant Breeders Association of Kenya (PBAK); Director of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Technology (IEET), JKUAT; Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, JKUAT and Founding Chairman, Horticultural Association of Kenya (HAK).
He is a recipient of the Matsumai International Fellowship for Peace Award, and he is widely published in internationally peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of many professional organizations including the International Society of Horticultural Science, and a fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS). He has wide exposure to national, regional and international research, mentorship, and academic leadership, and has maintained various international networks by bringing scientists with complete dedication to human resource development and the promotion of university education, knowledge economy, science and technology in Africa. He has over 35 years of experience in education, training, research, science, technology, policies, management and leadership at the University level. His research interests are in horticulture, blue economy, food and nutrition security; climate change with keen focus on sustainable horticulture/agriculture under low external input and germplasm development and improvement.
