Prof. Dick Kawooya is an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina (USC), where he teaches and conducts research in the field of library and information science.
His research examines how intellectual property systems shape and enable innovation ecosystems, with particular attention to the role and impact of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in facilitating or constraining knowledge exchange between formal institutions—including universities, research centres, and libraries—and informal businesses and sectors across Africa. His work is situated within the broader theme of information access and the flow of knowledge, emphasizing the ethical and legal barriers that shape these processes, often examined through the institutional lens of libraries and information infrastructures. His scholarship highlights the intersection of intellectual property, information governance, and development, with particular attention to how regulatory frameworks influence innovation in African contexts.
An experienced academic in the higher education sector, Prof. Kawooya brings expertise in e-learning, policy analysis, lecturing, curriculum development, and public policy. He holds a PhD in Communication and Information Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
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