Welcome Kushɛ Kabɔ!

I am a Lecturer in Sociology and Development Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

My work broadly explores education, youth, gender, politics, and development in Africa. Before joining Wits, I was a University of California Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles (2023-2025) and a Women and Public Policy Program Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School (2021-2022). My research has been generously supported by international and institutional fellowships, including the University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, American Association of University Women, Philanthropic Educational Organization, the University of Oslo, and the University of Pennsylvania William Fontaine Doctoral Fellowship, Program on Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies, and GAPSA-Provost Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Innovation.

I'm deeply committed to bridging the gap between research and policy. I've had the privilege of working as a practitioner and consultant with education and development organizations across the United States, Jordan, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. One of my proudest achievements is the establishment of The Kwame Nkrumah Distinguished Alumni Award at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, a direct outcome of my research and activism.

My journey has been a global one: born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, I was raised in Pakistan, Kenya, Uganda, and Bangladesh. After 15 years in the United States, I've now made my home in South Africa.

Feel free to explore my research, projects, and insights. I hope you find something that sparks your interest!