Prof. Justin Kalisti Urassa is an Associate Professor and he holds a PhD (Development Studies) and an MSc Social Research Methods (Development Studies) from the University of Sussex (United Kingdom). He also attained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Poverty Analysis for Socio-economic Security and Development from the Institute of Social Studies - Holland, an MSc and BSc (Agriculture) from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). Prof. Urassa also holds a Diploma in Dairy Husbandry from Livestock Training Institute (LITI) Tengeru, Tanzania.

Prof. Urassa in addition to his regular academic activities is currently the Chairperson of the Tanzania Quality Assurance Forum (TUQAF). Prof Urassa was Sokoine University of Agriculture Academic Staff Association’s (SUASA) Chairperson (April 2013 – January 2016). In addition, he has also acted as the Coordinator for SUA’s -Quality Assurance Bureau (August 2018 – to December, 2019) and as the Associate Director for the Development Studies Institute (SUA) from July 2004 to October 2005.

Before Joining ISW in February, 2022 Prof. Urassa worked in various capacities (Assistant Lecturer to Associate Professor) at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA (December, 1999 – February, 2022). In addition, before joining SUA Prof Urassa had worked as a Livestock Tutor at the Ministry of Agriculture Training Institute (MATI) Mlingano, Tanga (1989 – 1999).