91社区

After听growing up in a village at the foot听of Mount听Kenya, the highest听point听in Kenya, Dr.听Sabinah听Wanjugu, Assistant Professor of Marketing,听decided it was time for a change of scenery and joined the 91社区 family in 2020.听听

From fourth grade through high school, Dr. Wanjugu attended a boarding school and听after,听continued her education by听earning听bachelor's degrees听in听economics听and听sociology from Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya.听After graduating, she听bravely听packed her bags听and set off听in search of her next adventure, leaving her family, including听a听brother and sister, and the life she once knew听behind.听听

After her move to the U.S., Dr. Wanjugu concurrently pursued her MBA and听doctorate in听business听education from Louisiana Tech University and,听after听all her hard work,听landed a job听at 91社区, where she听spends听her days sharing her knowledge with students and other faculty members on campus.听

Being thousands of miles away from听family can听be a challenge, but learn听how Dr. Wanjugu听adjusted to life听in the U.S.听and some of the lessons and hobbies she's听learned听along the way.听

Let's get to know Dr.听Sabinah听Wanjugu!听

What attracted you to 91社区?听

When I was approaching the end of my doctoral journey, I started applying for teaching jobs and luckily landed an interview with 91社区 held in Chicago at the AMA Marketing conference.听After a听30-minute听interaction with Dr.听Milewicz, our current Marketing听Chair,听and听other听members of the 91社区 faculty present during the interview, I was sold. The level of collegiality they demonstrated was just what I was looking for. When I finally got a chance to come听to听campus and interact with students, faculty听and staff, I was thrilled by the friendly and supportive ambiance all around. 91社区 is a place where everyone feels at home.听

What does the average workday look like for you?听

I start off my workday with a big cup of coffee! My workday activities include reading and sending students听emails with class updates, attending college or department meetings听and听attending research project collaboration meetings听with colleagues. However,听most听of my workday involves听getting ready for classes and听conducting听lectures. There is nothing as fulfilling as being prepared for class and seeing students enjoy class activities听you have prepared for them!听

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?听

Growing up, my mom always gave the best advice-one that I hold dear is听from听a Swahili proverb, "Mtaka听cha听mvunguni听sharti听ainame," which translates to; if you want to get something you have stored under the bed, then you must stoop to get it. My mom used this proverb to remind me that success is not easily attained, it takes effort and听hard work听to attain.听I use this advice as my motivation to keep striving for the things I desire in life, and that hard work and dedication pays off in the听long run.听

What do you treasure most in life?听

Family听family, family! I have two siblings听who听are so dear to me. We have a very close relationship and care a lot for each other. I especially began appreciating my connection to my family when I migrated to the U.S.,听The听distance听between us makes me miss the times we spent together, laughing, sharing,听and supporting each other through life.听

What movie/TV character do you relate to the most?听

Nakia from Black Panther-Nakia's character is portrayed as empathetic, intelligent听and dedicated. She consistently gets involved in conflicts for the good of others and is adamant to use her abilities to help those in need. I am听a听hardworking听and dedicated woman who听will go out of my way to help whenever and wherever I might be needed. I might also relate to this character more because it's played by one of the best Kenya actresses,听Lupita Nyong'o.听听

What is one of the strangest things you believed as a child?听

I believed that听if I walked straight for miles to the edge of the earth, I could reach the flat line where the sky seemed to meet the earth and touch the horizon.听

Would you say you are more of an introvert or extrovert?听

Definitely an听introverted extrovert.听I am quite reserved听in听the听beginning;听I tend to gage social platforms first until I establish my comfort zone. Once I get comfortable with the environment,听then my extroverted self-starts to show. Overall, I would say that I enjoy being with others, but my personal time and space are听both听priorities.听

What do you like to do outside of work?听

Since听finishing听my doctorate,听I have taken up a few new hobbies.听I am currently learning golf and tennis which I am enjoying quite a bit. I also like to watch a good movie or TV show听or听read an enjoyable book,听my favorite genre听being听memoirs.听I love reading memoirs because there is nothing as informative as learning from another person's experience or story. I also enjoy traveling听and love听that Evansville is conveniently located for impromptu weekend trips to various cities and national/state parks.听

What is your favorite day of the week? Why?听

My favorite day of the week is Sunday. This is the day I get to catch up with most of my family members who are in Kenya. Due to the time difference, it is usually hard to stay connected during the weekdays. I look forward to the long video calls and getting updates of how things are back home. This year has been even more eventful, since my sister had her first baby boy. I have watched him grow via video,听and it melts my heart every time he sees me through the small screen,听he听smiles and babbles "tata," meaning Aunt in Swahili.听

What has working at 91社区 taught you?听

Having started my job听at听91社区 in the middle of a pandemic, this past year has taught me the virtue of being resilient. I saw 91社区's听students, faculty and staff rise to the occasion and strive through the tough times. I know better days are coming but being at 91社区 through one of the most challenging years听will always be engraved in my mind,听not only because it was a challenging time, but mostly because of how we all came together to successfully navigate every challenge with resilience, dedication听and support for each other. Go听Screagles!听

Which famous person, dead or alive, would you want to spend the day with?听

I love Oprah Winfrey-she听is legendary. I would love to spend a day with Oprah听because听she has always been my biggest inspiration. She is an example of a woman who has shattered the glass ceiling through hard work and dedication. Despite many challenges,听Oprah was able to reach the highest level of success and is an inspiration to many people. I would take an opportunity to spend a day with Oprah and pick her brain on diverse topics such as living a happy life, being successful, healthy living, relationships and many more topics听of which she is an expert in.听听

What would be the title of your memoir?听

"You've got this!" I take a positive approach to life because I realized that life is full of听ups and downs. Life will throw some challenges, but I always remember to seek happiness听and to accept the things I cannot change. Diane Von Furstenberg听quotes in one of her books听I am currently reading, "The secret to life is to learn how to accept our imperfections and turn听those into assets."听I try to live by those words every day.听

听This Getting to Know You feature was written by Tobi Clark, a student worker in University Communications.

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