It has been awhile since I last posted – almost three months. It’s not that nothing has been happening; on the contrary, the last several weeks have been very full and meaningful. Since my last post on May 25, we have: returned to Rwanda June 1; left Rwanda June 2 to attend the 3rd Africa Congress on Conservation Agriculture for a week in Morocco; moved into the Vice Chancellor residence at RICA (Kilimbi House) in mid-June; interviewed candidates for RICA’s new Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in early July; went to Boston mid-July for a week for Ryan and Alison’s wedding; hosted a visit to RICA by the President of the Republic of Congo on our wedding anniversary; hosted dinners for faculty, graduating students, and RICA leadership at Kilimbi House the week before graduation; and enjoyed the graduation ceremony for RICA’s first class – complete with participation by President Paul Kagame and Chancellor Howard Buffett. Consequently there are a few more photos than normal in today’s post. Teresa and I are looking forward to a few quieter days before we welcome RICA’s next cohort of students to campus for orientation August 27.
Richard Ferguson
The Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) Class of 2023, along with His Excellency Paul Kagame, Howard Buffett, RICA administration and faculty (RICA photo). August 8, 2023.Greeting His Excellency Paul Kagame on his arrival to campus, along with Howard Buffett (RICA photo). August 8, 2023.Teresa greeting His Excellency Paul Kagame (RICA photo). August 8, 2023.His Excellency Paul Kagame and Howard Buffett dedicating the RICA campus (RICA photo). August 8, 2023.RICA leadership following the campus dedication. Left to right; Jean Claude Kayisinga, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Institutional Development; Michelle Ntukanyagwe, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs; Richard Ferguson, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Research and Extension; Chancellor Howard Buffett; H.E. Paul Kagame; Ron Rosati, Vice Chancellor for Operations and Administration; Lydia Bwakira, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Operations and Finance; Magnifique Nzaramba, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Extension and Applied Research; and Valentine Uwamariya, Rwanda Minister of Education (RICA photo). August 8, 2023.Dr. Fausta Dutuze, RICA Senior Lecturer and Faculty Senate Chair, carrying the RICA mace and leading faculty in the graduation procession (RICA photo). August 8, 2023.‘Convening the congregation’, and providing opening remarks at RICA’s graduation (RICA photo). August 8, 2023.Overview of RICA’s graduation during my opening remarks. Graduation was held in a tent on RICA’s football field, seating 600 attendees (RICA photo). August 8, 2023.RICA’s first graduate to cross the stage – Germaine Akeza (RICA photo). August 8, 2023.Kilimbi House porch, in preparation for hosting 80 Class of 2023 students for dinner. August 1, 2023.RICA kitchen staff grilling goat and chicken brochettes at our house for the Class of 2023 dinner. August 1, 2023.RICA Class of 2023 (except for three students) with Teresa and I in our house. August 1, 2023.
RICA Class of 2023 relaxing at our house a week before graduation. August 1, 2023.Ryan and Alison after their wedding, along with Alice, Asher and Ben, in Cambridge Massachusetts. July 15, 2023.There are still occasional birds to photograph, though not many new species seen lately on campus. This Fish Eagle caught a tilapia for breakfast. July 2, 2023.Harvesting soybeans, RICA campus. The casual laborer is walking ahead of the combine watching for rocks to remove. June 29, 2023.Woodland Kingfisher, on the shore of Lake Gaharwa, RICA campus. July 2, 2023.Cinnamon-Chested Bee Eater near Musanze. August 13, 2023.Variable Sunbird (?) near Musanze. August 13, 2023.RICA Vice Chancellor residence, Kilimbi House. August 15, 2023.Sunrise over Lake Kilimbi. With no rain since early May, there is a lot of dust in the air, making for colorful sunrises. August 10, 2023.
KilimbiViews 