Agriculture program welcomes new leader
Imperial Valley College has hired Michael Kanyi as its new agriculture professor and coordinator of the college’s agriculture program.
He replaces Patrick Pauley, who is teaching biology for
IVC this fall.
Kanyi grew up in a farm family where his parents raised dairy and beef cattle as well as sheep in Kenya. They also grew corn, potatoes and cabbage for the local market. As a result of this agriculture environment, he became interested as a youngster in pursuing a career in agriculture.
He holds a Ph.D. in agricultural education and communication from Texas Tech University as well as a master’s degree in agricultural education and a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education and extension, both from Egerton University, one of the major agricultural universities in East and Central Africa. Kanyi also is a certified agriculture teacher and has biology as a minor teaching subject.
He has 13 years of teaching experience including two years at the high school level before joining a community college, Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology, where he taught interdisciplinary agriculture for seven years. Kanyi has also taught agricultural sciences at the university level and was involved in agricultural extension work in Kenya.
At Texas Tech University, Kanyi taught undergraduate courses to interdisciplinary agriculture students during the fall and spring semesters for three years.
He was also involved in the agriculture teacher certification program and supervised student teachers during their teaching practices.
“We are very happy and very fortunate to have Dr. Michael Kanyi on board as IVC new ag faculty,” said Nicholas Akinkuoye, IVC vice president of academic services. “His background, education and experience will help to put our ag program on the path to student success.”
Akinkuoye added leaders in the Valley’s agriculture community assisted the college in the hiring process. “Dr. Kanyi plans to engage with the ag community, high school students and 4-H and Future Farmers of America clubs, as well as the Ag Advisory Board in this endeavor,” he Said. “IVC is grateful for the participation of the representatives of Imperial Valley ag community in the hiring processes.”