aPPLY
Associate Professor of Psychology

Arasa, Josephine, PhD.

Dr. Josephine Nyaboke Arasa has a PhD in Educational psychology; Advanced Diploma in Clinical Child Neuropsychology, Med in Educational Psychology and B.Ed. (Sc). Currently am an Associate Professor of Psychology at the United States International University-Africa and acting chair, Psychology Department. Prior to this I was a lecturer at Kenyatta University. As an Educational psychologist I have vast experience in teaching in higher education (last 20 years), research in various topical issues, and community service. I have taught research methods at both undergraduate and graduate levels, supervised theses and projects, examined theses and been an external examiner and peer reviewer. For the last 8 years I have been training as an expert on Quality assurance frameworks for the interuniversity council for East Africa (IUCEA) commissions/councils in the region, institutions of higher learning and at international forums.
Email Address

jarasa@usiu.ac.ke

Location

Nairobi, Kenya

AREAS OF INTEREST / SPECIALIZATION

  • Education: Leadership, Quality of Training, Quality Assurance, Quality Assessment
  • Sexuality and Disability
  • Mentoring
  • Education for Special Needs and Disadvantaged Groups
  • Program Evaluation
  • Cross cultural and ethnic identity among adolescents in psychology-

 

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD in Educational Psychology – Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya (2004)
  • Advanced Diploma in Clinical Child Neuropsychology – Niilo Mäki Institute, Jyväskylä University, Jyväskylä, Finland (1998)
  • MEd in Educational Psychology – Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya (1995)
  • BEd (Science) in Education (Botany and Zoology) – Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya (1988)

TEACHING

  • IRL2005 – Comparative Foreign Policy
  • IRL3000 – Comparative Political Systems
  • IRL3060 – African International Relations
  • IRL4030 – International Political Economy
  • IRL4055 – Africa-Middle East Relations
  • IRL4811 – Critical Issues in Africa
  • IRL4850 – Studies in Contemporary International Crisis
  • IRL4900 – International Relations Project
  • IRL4910 – International Relations Internship
  • IRL6200 – International Organizations
  • IRL6235 – Advanced International Political Economy
  • IRL6030 – Issues of Development and Conflicts
  • IRL6035 – Politics and Patterns of Cooperation and Conflict
  • IRL7001 – Epistemological Debate on the Application of IR Theories
  • IRL7007 – Peace and Security Studies

PUBLICATIONS

Journal Articles:

  1. Záhorík, J., Ylönen, A., & Lego, J. (2025). Multiple Layers of Pan-Africanism and Pan-Ethiopianism in Current Debates on Nationalism and Ethnicity in Ethiopia, Nationalities Papers.
  2. Ylönen, A. (2024). Persisting Challenges of International Relations Analysis: Big Men Politics, State Fragmentation, and Local Power in the Horn of Africa, African Conflict & Peacebuilding Review, 14(2), 33–61.
  3. Ylönen, A. (2023). Governing the Horn’s External Linkages: Agency, Domestic Politics and Local Power in the Horn of Africa – Gulf Relations, Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, 17(4), 386–403.
  4. Ylönen, A. (2023). External Relations and Local Agency in the Horn of Africa, Current History, 122(844), 185–190.
  5. Ylönen, A. (2022). External Power Competition in the Horn of Africa: Somaliland’s Quest for International Recognition and Development, RUSI Journal, 166(6-7), 74–82.

Books:

 
  • Záhorík, J., & Ylönen, A. (Eds.) (2025). The Horn of Africa since 2018: Continuities, Transformations, and Prospects. Routledge.
  • Ylönen, A. (2024). The Horn Engaging the Gulf: Economic Diplomacy and Statecraft in Regional Relations. Bloomsbury Academic.
  • Bach, J-N, Abbink, J., Ancel, S., Ahmed, A., Fantini, E., Ferras, P., Mwakimako, H., Nallet, C., Ylönen, A., & Záhorík, J. (Eds.) (2022). Routledge Handbook of the Horn of Africa. Routledge.
  • Ylönen, A., & Záhorík, J. (Eds.) (2017). The Horn of Africa since the 1960s: Local and International Politics Intertwined. Routledge.
  • Ylönen, A. (2016). On state, marginalization, and origins of rebellion: The formation of insurgencies in southern Sudan. Africa World Press.

Book Chapters:

  1. Ylönen, A., & Záhorík, J. (2025). Enduring Authoritarianism, Endemic Instability, and Elusive Peace in Sudan. In J. Záhorík, & A. Ylönen (Eds.), The Horn of Africa since 2018: Continuities, Transformations, and Prospects (pp. 34–52). Routledge.
  2. Ylönen, A. (2025). Eritrea: Political Continuity in Eritrea: Domestic and Foreign Policy Considerations. In J. Záhorík, & A. Ylönen (Eds.), The Horn of Africa since 2018: Continuities, Transformations, and Prospects (pp. 76–93). Routledge.
  3. Ali, N. M., & Ylönen, A. (2022). Somaliland – Struggling for recognition: External actors and dynamics. In J-N. Bach, et.al. (Eds.), Routledge handbook of the Horn of Africa (pp. 98–109). Routledge.
  4. Ylönen, A. (2022). Engaging foreign Powers for regime survival: The relative autonomy of coastal Horn of Africa states in their relations with Gulf countries. In R. Mason & S. Mabon (Eds.), The Gulf States and the Horn of Africa: Interests, influences and instability (pp. 249-272). Manchester University Press.
  5. Ylönen, A., & Meckelburg, A. (2020). Ethiopia: Between domestic pressures and regional hegemony. In G. Carbone (Ed.), Africa’s thorny Horn: Searching for a new balance in the age of pandemic (pp. 122–148). Ledizioni.