Professor Bernadeta Killian

Prof. Bernadeta Killian is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Administration. She holds Bachelor of Education (UDSM) in 1992, Masters in International Relations (UDSM) in 1997, Masters in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1998; and Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (UCLA) in 2001. She was promoted to associate professorship in 2011.

Until this appointment, Professor Killian was serving as Deputy Vice Chancellor-Research, University of Dar es Salaam, since 2019. She has also served in different managerial positions at the University of Dar es Salaam including Head of Department of Political Science and Public Administration (2008 - 2009), Associate Chair, Research and Education for Democracy in Tanzania (2008 – 2009), Associate Dean – Practicum in the former Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (April–September 2008), Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication (2009–2012), Principal, Mkwawa University College of Education (2014 – 2018),Principal, Dar es Salaam University College of Education (2018 – 2019).

Prof. Killian has published and conducted consultancies extensively in the areas of policy analysis, gender equality, aid management, elections and democracy, legislative politics and governance. She has received various academic awards including; Executive Leadership Training by the International Women’s Forum (IWF) offered at Harvard Business School & Cambridge University (2008); Leadership training for professional women in higher learning institution at HERS-South Africa Academy (2008); Residential Research Fellowship at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Washington DC., USA (2007); Capacity Building Training Program in Election Monitoring and Conflict Management for Eastern Africa, Washington DC, USA (2002); the Rockefeller Foundation's African Dissertation Internship Award (1998); The Ford Foundation African Studies Research Mentorship Award (1997); and CODESRIA's Small Grant Award for M.A. Dissertation (1992).

Prof. Killian is committed to community service and has been involved as Chairperson and member in a number of key national and international committees and boards including the UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC), Tanzania Broadcast Corporation (TBC), Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE), Tanzania Education Authority (TEA), Mzumbe University and Tanzania Public Service College. She has worked as researcher with local and international organizations including TGNP, IDRC, ACCORD, University of Helsinki and International Democratic Assistance (IDEA). As consultant, Prof. Killian has worked with various international institutions including the African Union, USAID, World Bank, DANIDA, National Democratic Institute (NDI), UNDP, UN Women, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and many other multinational consultancy firms.