Dr. Marie-Christine Gasingirwa

Chairperson, Academic Affairs & Governing Body Member

Dr. Marie-Christine Gasingirwa holds a PhD in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (University of Namur, Belgium), an MSc in Agricultural Biotechnology (University of West Texas, USA), and a BSc (Hons.) in Zoology and Biochemistry (University of Nairobi, Kenya). She has authored and co-authored numerous scientific publications.

She served as Director General for Science, Technology and Research (DGSTR) at Rwanda's Ministry of Education from 2009 to 2018, representing Rwanda in regional and international forums and serving on steering committees for regional Centres of Excellence, including the MS4SSA teacher training project with the World Bank, AIMS and the MasterCard Foundation. From 2018 until her retirement in 2021, she served as Applied Sciences Analyst for Education Quality Development at Higher Education.

She is a founder member and Vice-Chairperson of the Rwanda Academy of Sciences (RAS), a founder member of FAWE-Rwanda, Vice-Chairperson of the National Commission for UNESCO, and currently serves on the Governing Body of Mount Kigali University as Chairperson for Academic Affairs. She was recognised in 2019 as "Champion of Science in the Promotion of Women and Girls in Science in Rwanda."

She is fluent in Kinyarwanda, English and French, and remains an active mentor and advocate for STEM education, women and youth empowerment, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems.