Mabokela, a respected leader in global education, will provide strategic leadership for the University’s global partnerships and programs.
The University of Rochester announces that Reitumetse (Reitu) Obakeng Mabokela has been appointed vice provost for global engagement, effective October 1, 2025.
An accomplished scholar and internationally respected leader in global education, Mabokela joins Rochester from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she served as associate chancellor and vice provost for global affairs and strategies and professor of higher education in the Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership. Her distinguished career spans leadership roles in international education, equity and inclusion, and global partnership development across academic and governmental sectors.
As vice provost for global engagement, Mabokela will serve as the University’s senior international officer, providing strategic leadership for the Office for Global Engagement. She will oversee the Center for Education Abroad and the International Services Office, and she will lead efforts to expand international partnerships, enhance global education pathways, support international students and scholars, and elevate Rochester’s global reputation in alignment with the University’s strategic plan, Boundless Possibility.
Mabokela will also hold a faculty appointment at the Warner School of Education and Human Development.
“Dr. Mabokela brings visionary leadership, deep global expertise, and a demonstrated commitment to inclusive international engagement,” said University of Rochester Provost and Chief Academic Officer Nicole Sampson. “Her record of cultivating institutional collaborations and advancing transformative international strategies makes her exceptionally well-suited to guide Rochester’s global ambitions in the years ahead.”
Born in South Africa, Mabokela has studied and worked on six continents and brings a rich multicultural perspective to her work. She holds a PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has served as a visiting scholar and consultant at institutions across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Her research examines equity in global higher education systems, institutional transformation, and the experiences of marginalized populations in international contexts.
“I am honored to join the University of Rochester, an institution with a bold vision for global engagement and a deep commitment to research, discovery, and equity,” said Mabokela. “I look forward to partnering with students, faculty, staff, and global colleagues to strengthen Rochester’s international presence and impact, and to cultivate connections that advance knowledge, cultural understanding, and opportunity.”
Mabokela’s appointment comes at a time of renewed emphasis on global partnerships and mobility. In this role, she will champion international diversity, support global research collaborations, strengthen international risk management, and develop programs that prepare students to lead in a globally interconnected world.
