Richard Kiprono Mibey (born 12 December 1951) is a Kenyan academic, research scientist and university administrator. Mibey served as the vice-chancellor of Moi University, the second university to be established in Kenya between 2006 and 2016. He is a professor of mycology with over 35 years teaching and scholarly experience. He has extensive knowledge and experience in the higher education system, having grown from a graduate assistant, research assistant, lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor, professor, department chairman, dean, campus principal as well as deputy vice-chancellor.
Early life and education Mibey was born in Nyambugo, Sigor North Location in the then Bomet District, Kenya. He was educated in Sugumerga Primary School and Kericho High School. He then proceeded to Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, North Carolina, US, for a BA, biology (1972–1976) and then Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, US, for a MSc biology (1976–1978). In addition, he pursued an MSc in plant pathology at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater (1978–1981) and a D.Ed. in agricultural education and extension (speciality in plant pathology) at the same university (1981–1984). He returned to Kenya and obtained a PhD in mycology from University of Nairobi in 1996.
Career Mibey worked as a graduate assistant, department of biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, US (1977–1978), graduate assistant, department of plant pathology, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, US (1978–1983), research assistant, USDA Laboratory, Stillwater, Oklahoma, US (1984–1985), lecturer, department of botany, University of Nairobi (1986–1989), senior lecturer, department of botany University of Nairobi (1989–1996), associate professor of botany (mycology) (1997–2001) and professor of mycology (botany department, University of Nairobi) (2002). He has a rich administrative experience. From 1998 to 2002, he was the chairman, department of botany, University of Nairobi. He also served as Dean, faculty of science, University of Nairobi (2000–2002), principal, Chiromo campus, University of Nairobi (2002 – February 2004) as well as deputy vice-chancellor, administration and finance, Maseno University (February 2004 to September 2006). In September 2006, Prof Mibey was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of Moi University.
Scholarly work Among other contributions to science, he has discovered more than 120 species of fungi, made major input to the discovery of environmentally friendly fungi for bio-control of the obnoxious water hyacinth weed in Lake Victoria has contributed to the preservation of rare and highly specialised micro-fungi of Kenyan plants. He is also a world authority on fungal taxonomy and biodiversity conservation. He has received a number of fellowships: DAAD Senior research Fellow; Darwin Fellow in April 1994 – April 1995, UNESCO Fellowship. He is a member of the British Mycological Society, Committee on biodiversity and Conservation, International Association for Plant Taxonomy and World Innovation Foundation. He has published over 50 publications and conference papers.
Personal life Richard Mibey is married with two children.
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