Prof. Hellen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Literature Theatre and Film Studies, at Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.  She holds B.A. (Ed.) 1^st Class Honours 1978 University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, M.Phil. (Literature) 1993 Moi University, and Ph.D in Literature 2008  Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.  Her PhD thesis was published on 18^th June 2010 in Berlin Germany under the title Alternative Conceptualization of Empowerment: African Gender Perspective. Within the discipline of Literature, she has specialized in Literary Theory, Stylistics, Research Methods and Practical criticism with a focus on African Literature.  In addition, she has studied theories and politics of gender independently and done research on Gender Issues funded by International research organizations. She has supervised and examined several theses. She has attended international research workshops, conferences, seminars and published.

Between July 2012-May 2013, she was on Sabbatical Appointment in the department of Language and Literature Education (LLE) at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kakamega Kenya. She finds interacting with another University community a rewarding experience.  

She has been a member of Association of African Women for Research and Development (AAWORD 1995-2002), Kenya Oral Literature Association (KOLA2008 to date), Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA1994-2004), International Society for the Oral Literatures of Africa (ISOLA). Kenya Non-Fiction &Academic Authors Association (KENFA) and recently African Literature Association (ALA) professional associations.

Prior to joining Moi University, she taught literature and history at Uasin Gishu High School, Eldoret, where she rose to the position of Deputy Head Teacher 1985-1990. On the side, she taught at Sunday school and Bible college levels.  In 1994-1995 she was a part-time faculty member at Alpha Omega Seminary in Jinja, Uganda.  In 1994-2002 she served in a similar capacity at International Christian Ministries in Kitale, Kenya.  In 1998-2002 she was a member of the Board of Directors of the institution. She has also taught at Discipleship College in Eldoret.    

Her vision is to make some contribution towards provision of quality education, especially in literary studies, and realization of gender parity in Kenya. Having gone to school against all odds in 1960s and 70s, she is particularly eager to impact education of the girl-child through research, teaching, and non-fiction writing.