Meet Kenyan-Born Fridah Mokaya, the First Black Lady to Graduate with PhD in Nuclear Physics from University of Connecticut, US

Kenyan-born Dr. Fridah Mogoi Mokaya became the first black female to graduate with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nuclear Physics from the University of Connecticut in the US.

Speaking during an interview with AW magazine, the Nairobi’s Pangani Girls High school alumnus said she attained the academic fete despite nearly missing her career in Physics. 

This was after she scored 68% in Physics and narrowly fell short of the 70% cut off mark for proceeding with sciences in High School.

It took the intervention of her dad who prevailed upon the school’s Deputy Principal to allow her to continue taking Physics.

“My Physics teacher Mr. Orinda, saw how distressed I was and knowing my potential told the deputy principal that he had allowed me in the Physics class on condition that I had to perform. Let’s just say that I worked hard and it paid off. I got an “A” in Physics when I sat for my KCSE exam,” she told the African Warrior Magazine.

After clearing high school, Dr Mokaya got an admission to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Kenya to study an undergraduate degree in Physics.

At JKUAT, she gave her all but ended up graduating with a Second Class Honours, lower division. “I had never felt so distressed in my life,” she says.

However, after getting a job at Barclay’s Bank in Kenya and working for seven months, her boyfriend-turned-husband (who was living in the US at the time) encouraged her to apply for a Master’s degree at Binghamton University (SUNY). Luckily, her application was accepted.

She joined the US institution to pursue Master’s in Physics and soon after graduating, she enrolled for a Doctorate Program at the University of Connecticut in 2010.

At University of Connecticut, she recounts how she had to balance her studies and parenthood after she delivered her first child.

“So here I had to balance being a mum, a wife and a PhD student. Honestly this was not an easy task….I thank God for my husband. He has been the best support system.”

“I recognized that I wanted to be a scientist at an early age and as soon as I learned to be a scientist is a profession like any other, I promised to do whatever it takes to get that which my heart wanted.”

She was the only black female student of Physics at Connecticut University but she says this didn’t bother her much as she kept focus on the ultimate prize.

“I was the only black Physics PhD female (student) in my department and honestly, I did not focus so much on this, so I never quite felt any different. I had very supportive colleagues who made graduate school awesome.”

Her advise?: “I want everyone to know that anyone can achieve anything you want in life… Challenges along the way should propel you to keep going and not discourage you.”

“If I could influence more women to pursue STEM related subjects, then I will be the happiest person.”