Distinguished Alumni Award: Dr. Jerono Rotich
Dr. Jerono Rotich is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. This award is the highest honor given to an alum by the School. It is for a person who has attained national and/or international stature through their achievements in one or more areas of teaching, scholarship, service, administration, leadership, creative endeavors, human relationships, and inspiration.
Dr. Rotich completed her Ph.D. in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science (now Kinesiology) in 2004. Prior to that she received an M.S.Ed. at the State University of New York (SUNY) Brockport, and a B.S.C. degree at Kenyatta University in her native Kenya. While completing her Ph.D. program, Dr. Rotich also worked as Program Coordinator, Immigrant Health Access Project Center at the Center for New North Carolinians, and held adjunct teaching positions at both Greensboro College and Guilford College.
After receiving her doctoral degree at UNCG, Dr. Rotich held a variety of teaching positions at NCA&T in the Department of Human Performance, Leisure and Recreation Studies, which included being department chair. From 2019 to 2022 she was chair and professor at North Carolina Central University for the Department of Kinesiology and Recreation. She is currently Professor of Kinesiology & Associate Dean for Organizational Climate, Inclusion, and Belonging School of Public Health at Indiana University.
Dr. Rotich is a member of numerous organizations, including the American College of Sports Medicine, American Public Health Association, Kenyan Students and Scholars Association (president, 2019-2022), Kappa Delta Pi, and the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE). She also serves on several editorial boards. Most recently she was recognized as the Best Educator in 2024 by her Kenyan students sponsored by Jambo List LLC, an organization that connects African business owners and consumers worldwide.
Dr. Rotich’s academic portfolio spans decades. In addition to numerous articles in professional journals and chapters in books, she has published information for the general public, and has received more than $2 million in external grant applications. Dr. Rotich has been the keynote speaker at dozens of national and international conferences and has presented at professional conferences regularly for years.
The extension of Dr. Rotich’s academic initiatives and outreach programs is beyond outstanding. She has led academic initiatives in institutions both domestic and abroad, including facilitating the establishment of the Kinesiology and Sports Institute at the University of The Gambia, Sere Kunda, Gambia; developing the Global Understandings course with Mahatma Gandhi University, in India; and developing that course with Dalian University, in China.
The overall depth and scope of Dr. Rotich’s professional career is truly amazing. It is no wonder that she was invited to the White House as an invited guest for President Biden’s Welcoming Ceremony for the President of Kenya and his wife.