Mokaya Bosire is a Senior Instructor at the Department of Linguistics. His research centers in the sociolinguistics of African youth languages, urban vernaculars, hybrid and mixed languages, language contact and language teaching. Mokaya teaches and coordinates the Swahili language program and as a core faculty member of the African Studies Program, he teaches & coordinates the interdisciplinary Intro to African Studies class. Passionate about presenting Africa in novel ways, Mokaya teaches an African folklore class, Voices of Africa, a class that explores everyday life in Africa and helps to connect the local African community with students through class events and guest lectures from community members.

Dr. Mokaya has travelled widely and leads the Swahili Study Abroad program in Zanzibar every summer. His hobbies include Ping Pong & Photography.

Email: mokaya@uoregon.edu

Hujambo! Jina langu ni Ally Ikehara, I use she/they pronouns and I’m from Las Vegas, NV. I am the FIG Assistant for Development Safari! I’m so excited to meet you all and help you navigate through your first term here at UO. Some information you’ll need to get to know me better, I’m a senior at the University of Oregon and I’m majoring in Geology with a minor in G.I.S.. For most of the term, you can find me somewhere in the EMU or Science Library working on homework or just hanging out with my friends. I’m part of Ahiru Daiko, the Taiko team here on campus as well as an Undergraduate Research Assistant to one of the Earth Science professors. When I’m not busy, you can assume I’m venturing around Eugene, playing video games with some friends, or baking. This will be my first year as a FIG Assistant and I was in this FIG two years ago. I’m very excited to make you all feel safe and welcome as you figure out who you are at college. This FIG brought me so much joy and a great sense of community when I first started my college experience and I hope it does the same for you! Please feel free to reach out to me whenever with any questions, concerns, or if you just want somebody to talk to!

Email: aikehara@uoregon.edu