It is with great sadness that the Arts and Sciences community mourns the passing of Kimuli Kasara, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science. A scholar of ethnic demography, political violence, and distributive politics, with a particular focus on Africa, Professor Kasara was an accomplished researcher, a devoted teacher, and a dedicated university citizen.
She joined the Columbia University community in 2006 after earning her PhD in Political Science from Stanford University and her undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford. Over her career at Columbia, she taught a range of courses in political science, including the foundational Introduction to Comparative Politics course, the main Contemporary African Politics course, and courses on democracy and regime change in developing countries, parties and elections, and the graduate-level seminar. She also published widely in leading journals in her areas of expertise and earned numerous fellowships to advance that work, while speaking and presenting regularly at leading conferences in her field.
Professor Kasara was an active university citizen, always willing to devote her energy to important governance bodies such as the A&S Academic Review Committee, numerous search committees for the Department of Political Science and the Provost’s office, and the Committee on Instruction for Columbia College and the School of General Studies, among others. For her excellence in teaching, research, and service, Arts and Sciences recognized her with its highest honor, the Lenfest Distinguished Faculty Award, during the 2018-19 academic year.
Professor Kasara’s colleagues remember her fondly for her sense of humor, strong principles, and the high standards she set for herself and others. We extend our deepest condolences to Professor Kasara’s family, friends, and departmental colleagues at this difficult moment. She will be deeply missed.
