In Memoriam: Maraget Asalele Mbilizi-Sawerengera

Margaret Asalele Mbilizi-Sawerengera, a former faculty member at several U.S. colleges and universities, has passed away.

Dr. Mbilzi-Sawerengera led an extensive career in higher education. She was an associate professor of educational policy and research at D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York, an assistant professor of higher education at Northern Illinois University, and an assistant professor of foundations of education at the University of West Alabama. As a researcher, she published extensively on women in higher education, women and STEM education, women in poverty, and women in politics. She was also the recipient of multiple prestigious awards including an international fellowship from the American Association of University Women, a scholarship from the World Bank Margaret Macnamara Memorial Fund, and the African Dissertation Internship from the Rockefeller Foundation.

Outside of the United States, Dr. Mbilzi-Sawerengera served in numerous roles in the country of Malawi, where her husband Edward Yakobe Sawerengera served as the U.S. Ambassador. These positions included deputy university registrar at the University of Malawi, director of higher education at the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology, and special assistant for education to the President of Malawi.

Dr. Mbilzi-Sawerengera held a bachelor of education degree and a master of education degree both from Chancellor College at the University of Malawi, and a master’s degree in education and a Ph.D. in educational policy studies both from Indiana University.