KENNESAW, Ga. | Feb 27, 2020

University of Georgia’s Kojo Mensa-Wilmot brings research and administrative experience to KSU

Kennesaw State University President Pamela Whitten and Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kathy Schwaig have named Kojo Mensa-Wilmot as dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. He will start in his new role on August 1.

Reporting to the provost, Mensa-Wilmot will serve as the chief academic and administrative officer for the College of Science and Mathematics, tasked with growing the college and fostering development of its students, faculty and staff.

“Dr. Mensa-Wilmot is an accomplished educator and nationally renowned scholar who shares KSU’s vision of excelling as a student-focused, research-driven university,” said Whitten. “Under his leadership, I am confident that he will increase the quality of the educational experience and research opportunities for students and faculty. His excitement about joining our senior leadership team is a testament to the upward trajectory of KSU.”

Currently, Mensa-Wilmot serves as department head and professor in the University of Georgia’s Department of Cellular Biology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and is the academic leader of the Chemical Biology Group at UGA. He also champions diversity initiatives on campus, advising the UGA Minority Premedical Students Association and the Scholars for Diversity in STEM.

Most recently, Mensa-Wilmot and his team of researchers earned a $2.6 million award from the National Institutes of Health to study Human African Trypanosomiasis, a disease found in sub-Saharan Africa and transmitted by tsetse flies. He is a world-renowned expert on Trypanosoma brucei, the single-celled organism that causes the disease.

“Dr. Mensa-Wilmot is a passionate educator, accomplished researcher and experienced leader who will continue building the College of Science and Mathematics into a destination for scholarly research and student development,” Schwaig said.

Mensa-Wilmot earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Ghana and his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Public Health. A prolific and well-published researcher, he is a reviewer at six different scientific journals and was named a fellow at the African Academy of Sciences in 2017.

“This is an exciting time for KSU and the College of Science and Mathematics” said Mensa-Wilmot. “As dean, one of my goals will be to expand opportunities for faculty, staff and students, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches that enable us to find new solutions to the challenges facing our global communities.”

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.