The Central University of Technology, Free State is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. M Masinde as the new Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, effective the 1st of September 2024. 

Professor Muthoni Masinde is an accomplished academic with over 25 years of experience in research, teaching, and academic leadership, particularly in the Information Technology (ICT) sector. She is a current acting Dean in the same faculty, a position she held since the 1st of January 2024. Prof. Masinde served as the Head of Department for the Department of Information Technology in FEBIT at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) for ten years. 

Prof. Masinde holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Cape Town. Her other academic qualifications include an MBA from the University of the Free State, MSc from the Free University of Brussels, Belgium, and B.Sc. from the University of Nairobi. 

As a distinguished researcher with a C2 rating from South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF), Prof. Masinde has contributed significantly to fields like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and the Internet of Things. Her development of the ITIKI system for drought prediction integrates technology with indigenous knowledge, showcasing her commitment to practical solutions. 

Prof. Masinde's leadership extends beyond academia. Her experience includes formulating ICT strategies for multinational corporations and implementing significant projects, such as the USAID-funded electronic notification system for transborder trade inquiry points across the East Africa Community. Her work in Women in STEM initiatives and her role as an advisor at international forums, including the World Bank Food Security Forum and contributions to the European Commission, showcase her commitment to diversity, inclusion, and innovation. 

Please join us in congratulating Prof. Masinde in her new role as the Dean of FEBIT at CUT. While we look forward to her contribution to the faculty and the institution at large, please provide her with all the support that she may need from each one of us.