Photo: Lyn Graybill

Caption: Prof. Graybill is one of the two fellows joining the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. She was a Fulbright scholar for Sierra Leone from 2009 to 2010 and is a Fulbright scholar to Kenya from June through December 2021, conducting research on transitional justice and teaching in the fall semester.

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences has welcomed two fellows to the School. The two fellows, Prof. Lyn Graybill and Dr. Henry Wambuii will be conducting research and teaching during the duration of their time at USIU-Africa.

Prof. Graybill is an independent scholar whose research has centered on peacemaking in Africa. She has written extensively about the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and most recently the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its relationship to the Special Court for Sierra Leone. She is particularly interested in indigenous methods of conflict resolution, the role of religion in conflict and conflict resolution, and the impact of war on women. She is the author of three books: Religion and Resistance Politics in South Africa (1995); Truth and Reconciliation in South Africa: Miracle or Model? (2002); and Religion, Tradition, and Restorative Justice in Sierra Leone (2017). She is the co-editor with Kenneth W. Thompson of Africa’s Second Wave of Freedom: Development, Democracy, and Rights (1998). She has published articles in diverse journals including Ethics & International Affairs, Third World Quarterly, Africa Today, Peace Review, Human Rights Review, Women’s Studies International Forum, Iris, and Current History.

Speaking to CTW, Prof. Graybill noted that her work has focused on the intersection between religion and politics in Africa. Her first book, Religion and Resistance Politics in South Africa, examined the twentieth century anti-apartheid movements in South Africa and the ways in which their leaders used religious ideas to justify goals and methods and mobilize their followers. In regard to her research, Prof. Graybill noted that she would be carrying out an inquiry into the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC).

“To complement my earlier research, I plan to conduct the same kind of inquiry that I did in South Africa and Sierra Leone in East Africa by examining Kenya’s Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC). In addition to this, I will be teaching two courses at the School of Humanities, namely Introduction to Political Science (POLS 2201) and Critical Issues in Africa (IRL 4811),” she said.
Prof. Graybill was a Fulbright scholar for Sierra Leone from 2009 to 2010 and is a Fulbright scholar to Kenya from June through December 2021, conducting research on transitional justice and teaching in the fall semester.

Dr. Wambuii is a tenured Professor of Political Science at the University of Central Missouri. Dr. Wambuii received his B.A. from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, his Master’s degree in International Development Administration (MDA) and his Ph.D. in Political Science from Western Michigan University.

He has conducted extensive research on politics in the developing world. Most recently, his published research has been on issues surrounding responses to HIV/AIDS and the pandemic's impact on political participation and governance. Other research interest is on poverty alleviation strategies in the developing world. His publications include a book titled The Politics of HIV/AIDS and Implications for Democracy in Kenya (2006), a book chapter entitled "For the Sake of Children: Community Based Projects in Kenya" in The Children of Africa Confront AIDS (2003) and several journal articles published in the African Studies Review, Journal of Third World Studies and the International Journal of Ecology and Development, among other journals. Dr. Wambuii has also authored several articles published in the International Encyclopedia of Political Science (2010).

Dr. Wambuii teaches several classes at UCM for both the Political Science and the International Studies programs. Recent classes taught are Principles of International Development, Modern sub-Saharan Africa Politics, Government and Politics in Latin America, Comparative Government and a class on Introduction to Politics. Other classes include Global Education Policy and Senior Seminar in International Studies and a new class on International Human Rights.