Mozilla Welcomes Dr. Chao Mbogho as Responsible Computer Science Challenge Fellow in Kenya

Dr. Chao will help educators in Kenya develop curricula that blend computer science and ethics

(NAIROBI, KENYA | DECEMBER 1, 2022) -- Shortly after announcing the Responsible Computer Science Challenge’s expansion into Kenya, Mozilla has now hired Dr. Chao Mbogho as a community fellow to drive this work forward.

The Responsible Computer Science Challenge was launched in 2018 to support professors in higher education who integrate ethics into computer science curricula. In August 2022, Mozilla announced that the challenge would expand to Kenya and India with support from USAID. Mozilla and USAID will be awarding 10 grants to innovation hubs and accredited institutions of higher education in Kenya.

During her fellowship, Dr. Chao will support faculty members from Kenyan universities, colleges and iHubs to conceptualize, develop, and pilot curricula that empower students to think about the social implications of computing.

Says Dr. Chao: “Technologists today have an outsized impact on society. The code they write and the products they build can determine whose privacy is or isn’t respected; who does or doesn’t qualify for a bank loan; and who does or doesn’t receive an accurate medical diagnosis. It is crucial that Kenyan educators have the resources to prepare the next generation of computer scientists to build responsible and ethical innovations that solve some of our most pressing socio-economic problems.”

Dr. Chao is a Kenyan multi-award-winning computer scientist, educator, and mentor. Her work and research focus on designing materials and tools to effectively teach computer programming. She is the founder and CEO of KamiLimu, a nonprofit organization that empowers tertiary-level tech students with 21st-century, industry-relevant competencies. The initiative has served students from over 25 tertiary institutions in Kenya and collaborated with over 200 industry professionals and companies to deliver structured mentorship.

Chao is also an instructor at Coursera, where she has designed and delivered more than 25 courses on computer programming and data structures. She holds a PhD in Computer Science. And in 2020, Dr. Chao was the first Kenyan to be awarded the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Women Scientists in the Developing World for her work in engineering, innovation, and technology.

Says Steven Azeka, Mozilla Program Lead with the Responsible Computer Science Challenge: “Dr. Chao Mbogho is an exceptional addition to the Responsible Computer Science Challenge community. Her background in education, technology, and civil society will be vital in expanding the challenge — and more responsible computing — across Kenya.”