Address Mauakowa Malata, FAAN, PhD, MSc, BSc, Named UCSF Presidential Chair Through June 30, 2025
Address Mauakowa Malata, FAAN, PhD, MSc, BSc, has been named a recipient of the 2024-2025 UCSF Presidential Chair Award and will be appointed as a distinguished visiting professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics through June 30, 2025.
As a UCSF Presidential Chair, Dr. Malata will focus on developing bidirectional graduate degree programs to advance equity and understanding in global health education in collaboration with UCSF, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), and other global partners. She will work closely with colleagues and the education team at the UCSF Institute for Global Health Sciences.
"I feel honored to receive the award and look forward to having meaningful conversations with staff and students at UCSF in the coming months," Dr. Malata said.
Dr. Malata currently holds the position of Vice Chancellor at MUST, the first woman to hold a vice chancellor position at a Malawi public university. She is regarded as a strong midwifery leader, and much of her research focuses on maternal and newborn health and quality of care.
In addition to her advocacy for girls’ and women’s empowerment through education, she has also led the development and implementation of various undergraduate and postgraduate programs in nursing, midwifery, health, science, innovation, and technology.
Dr. Malata also holds an NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing Courtesy Appointment (October 2023) and is former vice president of the International Confederation of Midwives and former president of the Africa Honor Society of Nursing of Sigma Theta Tau International. In 2016, she led the Kamuzu College of Nursing in becoming a World Health Organization collaborating center for interprofessional education and leadership.
The UCSF Presidential Chair Award is intended to encourage new or interdisciplinary program development or to enhance the quality of existing academic programs at the University. To meet this broad goal of contributing to the enrichment of campus academic life, UCSF allocates Presidential Chair funding to support the appointments of distinguished visiting professors for up to one year.
The University has also awarded 2024-2025 UCSF Presidential Chair Awards to Olle ten Cate, PhD; and Loic Yengo, PhD. The announcement was made by Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Brian Alldredge, PharmD. Their appointments take place between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.