 In 2006, when the position of Vice Chancellor at the university was advertised, she applied and beat three other applicants, all male, for the job.As Vice Chancellor, one of the major accomplishments is the establishment of Kenyatta University Referral Hospital, a 500-bed referral hospital, wholly owned by the university, which cost US$95 million to construct.In October 2013, Professor Olive Mugenda was appointed Chairperson of the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.