Jimmy Hendry Nzally is a postdoctoral researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Aside from his supervision, teaching, and research role, at the BSoG, he teaches International Relations of Africa. He has held various positions, such as supervision, teaching, and research, and served as a visiting scholar at the University of Eastern Finland, Ghent University, and at the VUB. His research interests include regime change and democratization in Africa; African history as well as contemporary politics; postcolonial African studies; and migration.
Jimmy has multi-disciplinary studies and research background. His prior studies include a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, and a Master’s in African History, both of which were done at the University of The Gambia (UTG). Additionally, he has a second Masters in Linguistics and Literary Studies. He graduated with a doctorate in Political Science from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). His PhD research focused: “Explaining Democratic Change in The Gambia: Understanding the Fall of Yahya Jammeh in the December 2016 Elections”. Overall, the PhD highlights that democratic change has been made possible by a fortunate constellation of domestic and international factors as well as by the mobilization of many Gambians prepared to risk their lives to achieve democratic change.
Professional and Volunteer Organizations include being Board Member of the Diaspora Advisory Committee, International Organization for Migration Belgium & Luxembourg. At the BSoG he organizes high profile panel debates: Forum for Democratization and EU Relations in Africa. He made media appearances on the BBC, Voice of America and SkyNews. He met with world leaders including having a sparkling lunch with the King of Belgium.
Jimmy is well-known at the VUB for his commitment to internationalization and involvement with students. He established the VUB Africa Student Community (ASCOM), served as chair of the International Student Platform, and provided the impetus for the creation of the VUB Latin America Student Community (LASCOM). He received the VUB Student Laureate Award. In Bozar, he was honored to deliver a speech on behalf of international to during the 2017- 2018 VUB academic opening. He delivered the first ever valedictorian speech at the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy graduation ceremony that same year.
