Professor Rose A. Upor

Professor Rose A. Upor is an Associate Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics, College of Humanities (CoHU). She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Linguistics from the University of Georgia, USA, and a Bachelor of Arts with Education and Master of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Dar es Salaam.

Prior to this appointment, Professor Upor has served the University of Dar es Salaam in several senior academic and administrative capacities. A distinguished academic leader and scholar, her career portfolio reflects extensive experience in university governance, academic administration, and national-level education leadership. Within UDSM, she has held positions including Head of the Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics, Director of the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Principal of the College of Humanities, and Director of Postgraduate Studies. In these roles, she worked closely with university leadership in strategic planning, policy development, and institutional management.

Professor Upor has been an active contributor to university governance, serving as a member of the University Senate (2012–2014, 2017–to date), sitting on its major committees, and previously serving as a Councillor of the University Council (2018–2024), where she represented the Council on several committees. She has contributed significantly to university policy formulation and strategic implementation as a member and/or convenor of over twenty (20) institutional committees.At the national level, Professor Upor served as the National Coordinator of the Secondary Education Development Programme (SEDP) under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. In this role, she coordinated the implementation of national education projects valued at over USD 469 million, demonstrating strong leadership in large-scale programme management and public sector coordination. Most recently, she served as President of the Partnership for Africa’s Next Generation of Academics (PANGEA).

Prof. Upor has published and her consultancy, and coordination work spans collaborations with international organizations, government institutions, and local government authorities. Her contributions have been recognized through several awards, including those from the International Women’s Forum, CODESRIA, and the Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA). She has also received executive leadership training from Harvard Business School (USA) and INSEAD (France). In addition, she brings valuable experience in public procurement, public sector finance, accounting and audit systems, and project management.

With her strong academic credentials, proven strategic leadership, and deep commitment to equity, quality, and excellence in higher education, Professor Rose A. Upor brings exceptional experience and vision to her new role as Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic.