CURRICULUM VITAE
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MUNGAI MUTONYA
Senior Lecturer
Washington University in St. Louis
African and African American Studies
Campus Box 1109,
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899.
(314) 935-5280 (office)
mmutonya@artsci.wustl.edu
EDUCATION
June 2000: Ph.D. in Linguistics
Michigan State University
Dissertation title: Vowel Systems of African Englishes: An Acoustic and
Perceptual Analysis.
1993-1995: M.A. in Linguistics
Michigan State University
Thesis title: Language Attitudes of Educated Africans Towards Regional
Varieties of African English
1989-1991: M.A. in Swahili Literature and Linguistics
University of Nairobi, Kenya
M.A. thesis title: Maudhui katika Ushairi wa Hassan Maalim Mbega
(Thematic Analysis of Hassan Mbega’s Poetry)
1983- 1986: B.A. (Hons), Political Science and Swahili Studies
University of Nairobi, Kenya.
PUBLICATIONS
Books
Safari ya Mambosasa. 2012. Nairobi: Kilele Publications & Productions (Children’s Book)
Punda Mjini: Safari ya Mambosasa. Nairobi: Kilele Publications & Productions.
Mitumba. 2012. Nairobi: Kilele Publications & Productions (Swahili play)
Mnada wa Sokomoko. 2007. Nairobi: The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation. (Swahili play)
Language Attitudes Towards Varieties of African English. 2009. Saarbucken:Verlag
Journal Articles
“KiKAR: a Swahili variety in Kenya’s Colonial Army” (co-author Tim Parsons). In Journal
of African Languages and Linguistics. Vol. 25 (2004), pp. 111–125.
“Redefining Nairobi’s street children redefining their world: a study of language and
identity.” In Journal of Global Initiatives. Vol. 2 (2007), pp. 169-187.
“Swahili advertising in Nairobi: innovation and language shift.” In Journal of African
Cultural Studies. Vol. 20 (2008), pp. 3-14.
“African Englishes: acoustic analysis of vowels.” In World Englishes. Vol. 27 (2008), pp.
434-449.
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Reviews
Review of Dictionary of Literary Swahili, by Jan Knappert and Van Kessel, Anthropos
Journal, A.106, 2011/12
THESIS COMMITTEES


Graduate Thesis
o Ph.D. Committee, David Ansong, Social Work, George Warren Brown
School, Washington University in St. Louis (current).
o MA Committee, Leonard Muaka, Swahili Literature, University of Nairobi
(1993).
o MA Committee, Zachary Mosoti, Swahili Literature. University of Nairobi
(1993).
Undergraduate Honors’ Thesis
o Thesis Advisor, Anisah Giansiracusa, International and Area Studies (
o Thesis Reader, Emily Galloway, International and Area Studies, (2008).
 Thesis Reader, Reynolds Whalen, Film and Performing Arts, (2008).
 Thesis Advisor, Jamie Thomas, Swahili and Anthropology, African and
African American Studies, (2007).
 Thesis Advisor, Eleanor O’Donnell, Linguistics and International and Area
Studies, (2005).
 Thesis Reader, Molly Kaplan, African and African American, (2005).
 Thesis Reader, Jeffrey Kalikow, International and Area Studies (2004)
 Thesis Reader, Ethan Miller, History, (2004).
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Courses taught:
 Washington University in St. Louis (1999 – present)
 Language and Society in Africa (Fall 2008, 2009)
 Community-based component of Swahili courses
 Introduction to African Literature
 Introduction to African Studies
 Beginning Swahili I, II (on-campus and Summer in Kenya)
 Intermediate Swahili I, II (on-campus and Summer in Kenya)
 Readings in Swahili Literature
 Michigan State University (1993-1999)
 Beginning Swahili I, II
 Intermediate Swahili I, II
 Readings in Swahili Literature
 University of Nairobi, Kenya (1991-1992)
o Modern Swahili Prose
o Pre-20th Century Swahili Literature
o Historical and Modern Development of Swahili
o Seminar Coordinator (in charge of the department’s guest speaker series)
RESEARCH PAPERS AND REPORTS
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2013
2013
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2007
2007
2007
2006
2005
“How cultural contexts influence public health and social work practice,” invited
panelist at the African Graduate Students Association Workshop, GWB School
of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis.
“Ubuntusim in African Linguistics and Literature,” guest speaker in AFAS
Foundations Course, Washington University in St. Louis.
Session Chair, Panel 2, International Conference on Africa and the Diaspora in
the New Millennium, University of Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri.
Session Chair, Panel IV, International Conference on Africa and the Diaspora in
the New Millennium, University of Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri.
“Kisetla: Maintaining a truncated Kiswahili variety in colonial Kenya,” paper
presentation, 43rd Annual Conference on African Linguistics, Tulane
University, New Orleans.
“Harnessing Linguistic Reources for Social Integration in Africa,” paper
presentation, Mid-American African Alliance for African Studies (MAAAS) 12,
Hilton at the Ballpark Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri.
“Language and Youth Empowerment in Africa,” invited panelist at the African
Graduate Students Association Workshop, GWB School of Social Work,
Washington University in St. Louis.
“Affirming Ubuntusim in African Linguistics and Literature,” guest speaker in
AFAS Foundations Course, Washington University in St. Louis.
“Ni Poa Kuchill: Trends in Swahili advertising in Nairobi,” paper presentation,
38th Annual Conference on African Linguistics/11th Annual Conference of the
African Language Teachers Association (ALTA), University of Florida,
Gainnesville.
“Experiences and challenges directing a summer abroad program,” presented
at workshop for new study abroad faculty, International and Area Studies,
Washington University in St. Louis.
“African Students helped change the world. How Will You?” African
Students’ Association, Washington University in St. Louis.
“Nairobi’s homeless redefining street referents,” paper presentation, 37 th
Annual Conference on African Linguistics (ACAL). University of Oregon,
Eugene, April 2006.
“Kinoki: Nairobi’s urban slang.” New Ways of Analyzing Variation (NWAV)
Conference. New York University.
2005
“Challenges and rewards teaching Kiswahili in a short-term study abroad
program: The Washington University Experience.” Presented at the African
Language Teachers Association (ALTA) conference, Yale University.
2005
“Africa in American popular culture.” Invited to present and discuss with WU
Association of Black Students (ABS)
2005
“Computer Assisted Language Learning: Using multimedia in an African
Language classroom”. Invited to present in Prof. Cindy Brantmeier’s
(Department of Romance Languages and Literature) Graduate Seminar class:
Second Language Acquisition and Technology.
2004
(with co-author Tim Parsons) “ KiKAR: a Swahili variety in Kenya’s Colonial
Army” AFAS Working Paper Series, Washington University in St. Louis
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2003
“Sheng ya Base: Nairobi street children redefining their world through
language”. Paper Presented at the African Studies Association (ASA)
Conference. Boston, Massachusetts.
2003
“Untold stories of Black history: African languages and politics” presented at
The Black Arts and Science Festival, Washington University in St. Louis.
2003
“Sounds of Swahili poetry” presentation at Washington University’s
Sesquicentennial celebrations.
2002
"KiKAR: Soldier's Pidgin Kiswahili Spoken in the 1920s" Paper Presented to
the Africa Language Teachers Association (ALTA) Annual Conference on
African Linguistics Conference. University of Ohio, Columbus.
2002
Session Chair. ALTA/ACAL Conference. University of Ohio, Columbus.
2002
"African languages and literature" presentation at The Wednesday Club of St.
Louis
2001
"Did you say ‘bird’, ‘bad’ or ‘bed’?" Vowel variations across Africa,”
presented at 32nd Africa. Annual Conference on African Linguistics (ACAL),
University of California, Berkeley, March 23–25, 2001.
2000
"Teaching Kiswahili abroad: New methods and approaches," presentation at
Department of Linguistics and African Languages Seminar, University of
Nairobi, Kenya.
1998 “Regional Varieties of African Englishes: An acoustic analysis of vowel systems”
5th International Association of World Englishes (IAWE) conference, University
of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign
1997 “Development of genres of Swahili literature,” African Studies Center Cultural
workshop, Michigan State University.
1996 “Language attitudes towards varieties of African Englishes” African Language
Teachers Association (ALTA) Conference, University of Florida, Gainesville,
Florida.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2013 Freshman Reading Program Facilitator, Faculty Perspectives Session, Washington
University in St. Louis
2013 BLOC Mentor, Village, Washington University in St. Louis
2011 Freshman Reading Program Facilitator, Faculty Perspectives Session, Washington
University in St. Louis
2010-present, Certified Swahili Oral Proficiency Tester, American Council on the
Teaching of Foreign Languages.
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2000 – present, Director, Summer in Kenya Program, Washington University in St. Louis
2000–present, Study Abroad Advisor, African and African American Studies,
Washington University in St. Louis
2004, Faculty Associate, Eliot Hall 2, Washington University in St. Louis
2009, Faculty Associate, Rubelmann Hall 3, Washington University in St. Louis
2010, Faculty Associate, Umrath Hall 4, Washington University in St. Louis
2011, Faculty Associate, Umrath Hall 2, Washington University in St. Louis
2008 Freshman Reading Program Facilitator, Faculty Perspectives Session, Washington
University in St. Louis
2009 Freshman Reading Program Facilitator, Faculty Perspectives Session, Washington
University in St. Louis
2010 Freshman Reading Program Facilitator, Faculty Perspectives Session, Washington
University in St. Louis
2011 Freshman Reading Program Facilitator, Faculty Perspectives Session, Washington
University in St. Louis
2003-05 Editor, H-SWAHILI, an affiliate of H-NET
2000-2004 Faculty Advisor, African Students’ Association
2002-2005 Board Member, St. Louis to Africa Interconnectivity Project
1994 Assistant Coordinator, Summer Language Intensive Program, Michigan State
University.
1997 Assistant Coordinator, Summer Language Intensive Program, Michigan State
University
1993-1999 Teaching Assistant, Michigan State University
1998-99 Bilingual/Bicultural volunteer, Lansing Refugee Service Center, Michigan
1996-99 Editor, African Students’ Newsletter at Michigan State University
1998-1999 Bantu Languages Coordinator, Michigan State University
1997-1997 Peer Consultant, Teaching Assistants’ Program, Michigan State University
1991-92 Freelance Feature Writer, Taifa Leo, Kenya.
1991-92 Swahili Manuscript Reviewer, Heinemann Publishers, Nairobi
1992-93 Tutorial Fellow, University of Nairobi. Kenya
1986-88 High School Swahili teacher, Kenya.
ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT
2000 – to present: Washington University in St. Louis
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 Senior Lecturer in African Studies
 Director, Summer in Kenya Program
1993-99: Michigan State University
 Teaching Assistant (responsible for curriculum development, teaching, and
evaluation of Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Swahili courses)
1998-99: Michigan State University
 Bantu Languages Coordinator (responsible for coordinating and supervising
the teaching of Shona, Chichewa, Zulu, and Gikuyu courses)
1991-92: University of Nairobi
 Tutorial Fellow
FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS AND AWARDS
2008 Gephardt Institute of Public Service. Community-based Teaching and Service
Learning -African Refugees’ Outreach Project.
2001 Washington University's International Studies Activity Research Fund
2000 Washington University's International Studies Activity Research Fund
2000 Washington University's Technology and Curriculum Initiative Grant
1998 Thoman Fellowship for the Alleviation of Hunger and Poverty in the World
1998 College of Arts and Letters grant to present a paper at 5th International Conference
of World Englishes Conference
1998 Certificate of Appreciation from Michigan State University’s Teaching Assistance
Program
1995 International Students and Scholars’ Grant, Michigan State University.
1992: Recruitment Fellowship, department of Linguistics, Germanic, Slavic, Asian and
African Languages, Michigan State University
1996 African Student Union Award for Outstanding Contribution.
OUTREACH PROGRAMS
2013 A service-learning program tutoring at Kingdom House, St. Louis
2013 A service-learning program teaching Swahili-speaking refugee students at
International Welcome School (St. Louis Public School District)
2012 A service-learning program teaching Swahili at Pamoja Academy in St. Louis (St.
Louis Public School District)
2011 A service-learning program teaching Swahili-speaking refugee students at
International Welcome School (St. Louis Public School District)
2008-2009 Helped Swahili-speaking Burundi refugees integrate in the University City
area.
2004 A service-learning program during Summer in Kenya Program students initiated
a library project at Muthangari Primary School in Kenya. Students painted walls,
built bookshelves, and donated books.
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2009
A service-learning program during Summer in Kenya Program students initiated
a library project at Solidarity with Girls in Distress, Mombasa, Kenya. Students
painted walls, built bookshelves, and donated books.
2010 A service-learning program during Summer in Kenya Program students initiated a
library project at Muthangari Primary School in Kenya. Students painted walls,
built bookshelves, and donated books.
CONTRIBUTION TO WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
2003 Coordinated the invitation and visit of Ngugi wa Thiong’o, internationallyrecognized Kenyan writer ‘s to Washington University in St. Louis.
2009 Actively participated in the planning and coordination of Haba na Haba, a Nairobibased and internationally known performance group to Washington University
in St. Louis.
2011 Invited Kenya’s ambassador to the United States, H.E. Elkanah Odembo, to
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
African Language Teachers Association (ALTA)
African Studies Association (ASA)
VOLUNTEER WORK
2002: Steering Committee member, Nairobi-St. Louis Educational Exchange Program
1998: Bilingual/ bicultural volunteer, Refugee Service Center, Lansing.
1998: Community Volunteers for International Program. MSU Outreach Program
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