Prior to obtaining her PhD, she appointed as a research assistant to a professor of zoology at University after receiving her Masters in 1966 but the job was given to someone else due to gender and tribal bias.

She was later offered a job as a research assistant in the School of Veterinary Medicine of Nairobi in the same year.

She travelled to University of Giessen in Germany in 1967 and returned to University College of Nairobi in 1969 to work as an assistant lecturer.

While working as a professor in the University, Wangari Maathai was active in her voluntary work. In the early 1970s, she became a member, and later on, a director in the Kenya Red Cross Society in 1973. In addition to that, she was also a member of Kenya Association of University Women.

After she obtained her PhD, she became a senior lecturer in anatomy in 1975, chairing the Department of Veterinary in 1976 and became an associate professor in 1977.

 

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