MENTORSHIP SUCCESS: First Class Honours in Sociology at Pwani University Graduates with a PhD from Ghent University
By Prof. Dr. Halimu Shauri
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Allow me today to celebrate one of my first mentees when I joined Pwani University in 2009.
Stanley Wanjala Wechuli, now Dr Stanley Wanjala Wechuli was among the first lot of students doing Sociology. From day one of class I realised his potential and spotted his talent.
Indeed, in four (4) years of our interaction he proved his talent by becoming the first first class student graduating with a degree in sociology at Pwani University College, then a constituent college of Kenyatta University.
Because Pwani University was just starting, students didn’t have enough exposure to the world of careers.
Stanley joined a local day secondary school as a teacher, where because of his talent made history by being the first teacher to produce excellent grades in English Language, a subject he was passionate in his early university years.
Apparently, because I was aware of his talent and due to our interaction his passion for sociology developed countless folds. Accordingly, I decided to bring him closer to me.
Stanley started working with me in my projects acquiring many skills that am sure were helpful to who he has become, Dr Wechuli.
His excellent, efficient and effective delivery of the tasks I assigned him earned him an opportunity to do his masters in sociology under my supervision at Pwani University.
As my masters student he continued being useful in my projects, learning superior skills in research and consultancy.
His research area, medical sociology was my passion back then having myself done my research projects, theses: masters and PhD in medical sociology.
Our engagement was professional in the beginning but as time went by:
“Our mentor-mentee bond became irresponsibly strong…When we say mentorship is about bonding, then Dr Stanley is a testimony”
The strong bond we had opened more opportunities for him because of our interactions and bonding,
“I became a BRIDGE for him not only to cross the river of career search by joining Pwani University as a Tutorial Fellow, but also linking him to his PhD opportunity.”
The gates of PhD scholarship opened and Stanley was enrolled for his PhD abroad.
To cut long story short, in December 2024 Stanley Wanjala defended his PhD thesis and passed. He graduated the same month with his PhD and today I reflected on his milestones in academia and life and decided to celebrate him here for my other mentees to know it’s possible.
Finally, allow me to congratulate once again and once more Dr Stanley Wanjala Wechuli for attaining the highest honour and degree in sociology at GHENT UNIVERSITY.
The path is clear for him towards becoming a Full Professor of Sociology, a passionate dream I harbour in my succession plan for all my academic mentees.
VIVA: DR. STANLEY WANJALA WECHULI: VIVA
By Prof. Dr. Halimu Shauri
Dean and Consultant Sociologist
PWANI UNIVERSITY
