Wangari Maathai

Wangari Muta Maathai (born April 1, 1940 in Nyeri) is a Kenyan environmental and political activist. In 2004 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace" — the first African woman to receive the award.

Education

After finishing school in Kenya, Maathai studied Biology in the United States and Germany. She received her Bachelor's degree in biology from Mount St. Scholastica (now Benedictine College) in 1964, and her Master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh, before returning to Nairobi, where, at the University of Nairobi, she earned the first Ph.D. awarded to an Eastern African woman (in veterinary medicine). In 1971, she became professor for veterinary anatomy at the University of Nairobi, and then later dean of her faculty. In 2002 Maathai accepted a position as Visiting Fellow at Yale University's Global Institute for Sustainable Forestry.

Related Topics:
United States - Germany - Biology - Benedictine College - University of Pittsburgh - Nairobi - University of Nairobi - Ph.D. - Veterinary medicine - 1971 - Professor - Veterinary - Anatomy - Dean - Faculty - 2002 - Yale University - Global Institute for Sustainable Forestry

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