Professor David Norris holds a PhD in Quantitative Genetics and Animal Breeding from the Michigan State University. He read for his MSc in Animal Science at the University of Reading. He holds a BSc – Biology & Physics obtained from the University of Botswana. He has attended a number of leadership and professional programmes including Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives (Harvard University); Multi Stakeholder Strategies and Processes (CDI – Wageningen University, Netherlands); Curriculum Development – Problem Based Learning (Hanze University, Netherlands); Gender Mainstreaming (ICRA, Netherlands); Strategic Leadership (Maastricht School of Management, Netherlands); Management of Higher Education (Galilee International Management Institute, Israel); Change and Process Management (Rutgers University). Professor Norris competencies include: Innovative Teaching & Learning; Research Development- and Innovation; Higher Education Administration and Management.
Professor Norris has been serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Botswana since 1st November, 2017. He is an experienced leader, researcher and lecturer, having served in different capacities in Botswana, USA and South Africa. Prior to joining the University of Botswana, he was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor responsible for Research and Innovation at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST). Before serving at BIUST, he was Director of the School of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at the University of Limpopo, South Africa. He has also served as Assistant Professor at Austin Peay State University, USA and worked for the Government of Botswana’s Department of Agricultural Research as Senior Research Officer.
Professor Norris has published extensively in refereed journals and conference proceedings. Professor Norris has supervised and co-supervised a number of Masters and PhD students, as well as serving as an external examiner for various regional and overseas universities. In addition, Professor Norris has served as a reviewer and member of editorial boards of numerous science publications.