Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- Annie Kinwa-Muzinga, associate professor of agribusiness at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is an advocate for diversity. Her dedication to teaching and efforts to promote diversity awarness earned her the 2008 Outstanding Woman of Color Award. Kinwa-Muzinga was presented the award at UW-Green Bay on April 2.

"Many women are doing great things. It is an honor to be selected among these women. It is a big happiness. This award is not just for me alone, but for all those who believe in me; my family, colleges and students," said Kinwa-Muzinga.

Kinwa-Muzinga began her teaching career as a teacher's assistant at the University of Illinois. She enjoys connecting with students and helping them solve problems. A native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinwa-Muzinga strives to give students a global perspective on the material. She teaches business as it is done in Wisconsin, the United States and developing countries. She also developed an interactive lesson plan on lending. Students had to make decisions relevant to their careers in a real life environment. For her innovative teaching, Kinwa-Muzinga was also selected to be the 2007-2008 Wisconsin Teaching Fellow for UWP.

"I want them (students) to be able to survive in our globally diverse society. I want to bring a different perspective in teaching ... The world is becoming smaller and we are living in a global environment. Students need to be aware of differences and appreciate differences. It can bring something valuable into their life," said Kinwa-Muzinga.

Outside the classroom, Kinwa-Muzinga serves the needs of students by advising the Pioneer National Agri Marketing Association and CERES fraternity.

Kinwa-Muzinga appreciates that UWP is also striving to expose students to other countries and cultures through its various study abroad programs and international short courses. She helped arrange one of the short courses, "Women's Livelihoods in Ghana," in which 14 students traveled to Ghana, Africa over the 2008 winterim. During the trip, students met with Ghanaians and saw their different agricultural commodities and how they conduct business.

"Dr. Annie has done a number of things. She consistently strives to improve her teaching and is an advocate for the students she works with," said Mark Zidon, director of the School of Agriculture.

As a member of the UWP College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture Diversity Equity Committee, Kinwa-Muzinga is working to build awareness of potential issues that faculty and academic staff may face dealing with race or ethnicity. She has also done research assessing the level of satisfaction of minority faculty and staff with the campus environment.

"I want to improve the status of women and be an advocate for other women and diversity. I am doing what I can," said Kinwa-Muzinga.

Kinwa-Muzinga received her B.S. degree from the University of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and her MBA and Ph.D. in ag economics from the University of Illinois. She joined the School of Agriculture faculty in January 2002. Kinwa-Muzinga resides in Platteville with her husband and three children.

Contact: Annie Kinwa-Muzinga, associate professor, agribusiness, (608) 342-1007 Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu