Aggie Women Lead: Jane Irungu, An Empowering Changemaker and Advocate

Editor’s Note: As part of a series, Utah State Today is publishing profiles of a variety of leaders. This interview with Vice President Jane Irungu is in observation of March as Women’s History Month.

Be a changemaker. If one were to ask Jane Irungu, vice president for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Utah State University, this is the main phrase she would use to describe her career focus. Witnessing the transformative power of education in her life, Irungu has made it her life mission to advocate for those who need help and fostering environments where all students can thrive and follow their passions.

Growing up in Kenya, Irungu understood that education was the way for her to build a better life. Breaking cultural norms, and following the advice of her parents, Irungu continued to follow her passion for education, becoming the first female in her village to ever graduate from high school, and the first to attend and graduate from college.

After graduating in 1986, Irungu became a high school teacher and later a principal. In 1997, she moved to the U.S. In 1998, she became an adjunct professor at the University of Kansas, teaching African Studies and Swahili, and later transitioned to other administrative positions. During this time, she earned her master's and doctorate degrees and transitioned to higher education, gaining valuable insights into the diverse experiences of college students.

Joining the University of Oregon, Irungu had the opportunity to focus on inclusive excellence, advocating for policies and practices that ensured equal opportunities for students, faculty and staff from various backgrounds. At the University of Oklahoma and now at USU, Irungu continues her mission to support the vision of success and equal opportunity. Her focus is on working towards a welcoming and inclusive campus community where all can thrive, find belonging and succeed.

Utah State Today: At what age did you know you wanted to enter your current field and leadership role?

Jane Irungu: Growing up in Kenya and being born in a family without a lot of means, you saw people who are educated doing better than my family. Everybody understood that education was the only way to break the cycle of poverty. In my village, many of the folks that were doing well and eating well were educators. So, I thought I wanted to be one of them. But, in high school, my reasons for wanting to be an educator changed.

It was in high school where my drive and desire to be a changemaker happened. Our deputy principal– Margaret Mary– would always remind us that we had the opportunity to do well, and to go out and change the world. I saw that she was a changemaker because she was changing the world by educating and mentoring us. I thought this was a good way to live your life. By being a changemaker and an educator.

UST: What sparked your initial interest in your field?

JI: 12 years at the University of Kansas gave me opportunity to mentor students from all walks of life. And I learned a lot about difference in opportunity. I learned a lot about how different students experience college. I realized that students come to college, and they each experience college very differently. Depending on who they are: sometimes depending on their identities or their socioeconomic status or geographical origin or nationality, or sometimes even depending on their gender.

When I saw the job opening at the University of Oregon, I realized that there is actually a field of work where you can focus on making sure that systems and practices and policies are in place to consider that students come to college and are starting from different points. They are experiencing the university differently and that might impact achievement. It might impact when they graduate and if they graduate. And I wanted to be a part of that.

UST: Were there specific individuals or events that inspired and influenced your career choices? Was there a major influence that got you down the path you are currently on?

JI: My parents put a lot of worth in education. In those days in my village, not many women were going to college. And the culture was really not supportive of women going to those high levels of education. But my parents always encouraged me, especially my father.

I will always be grateful to my dad. My dad defied all cultural beliefs that women need not go to the highest levels of education. He pushed me and made sure that all of the women in my family were educated. And he defied all the cultural norms and wasn't afraid to stand up for us. That advocacy for me means a lot because it has turned me into an advocate.

UST: What is some advice you have been given that helped you on your journey?

JI: I remember my father telling me: ‘You are the first born in this family. How you live your life and how well you do in school, all of that will affect everybody behind you. All your siblings look up to you, and if you do well, they will do well.’ I am the first born of 12 children. And I wanted to be a role model for them, and I wanted to make sure that what I do changes people’s lives.

And Miss Margaret Mary always reminded us, ‘remember where you have come from. Do not forget that you are the pacesetter in your family and in your community.’ And that was true. I was the first woman in my village to go to high school and I was the first to go to college. I was the first to graduate from college. And my entire village came to my graduation party.

UST: What advice would you give to other young people who are aspiring to follow their passion?

JI: I always tell young people: Identify what you love to do. Identify what makes meaning for you and what you hold dear. Identify where you can make a difference, not only for yourself, but for those around you. If you do what you love, every day will be a great day. If you do what you love, no matter the challenges, you will be able to be resilient through those challenges.

UST: What inspires you about your current field (or position) and leadership role?

JI: I love advocating for my students and helping remove barriers. I love supporting my students, no matter who they are, no matter where they come from. My joy is when students come to college and find people who care for them, who go the extra mile to help identify the gaps to their success and fill those gaps. And in two years, or four years, or however long they are here, that they can achieve their goals.

UST: What is a major initiative you are working on in your current field and leadership role?

JI: Right now, we are experiencing challenges in my field. But even through the challenges, my goal of supporting students and faculty and staff is not changed. I still have the passion, I still have the desire, and I'm still drawing from within my grit and my resiliency over the years to make sure that we are still identifying what the gaps are. What is the barrier for thriving for our faculty or our students? And how can we close those gaps? I've lasted almost four decades doing this work, supporting folks through education. Education is a noble thing that changes lives. And I'm so proud to be an educator.