Professor John Odhiambo was appointed the Vice Chancellor of Strathmore University with effect from the 1st May 2003. Until his appointment at Strathmore he was Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Nairobi and Chairman of the Department of Mathematics of the Faculty of Science.

Professor Odhiambo received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Nairobi. In 1976, he was awarded the Shell Prize for best overall graduating student in the Faculty of Science at University of Nairobi. In 1984, he was awarded a Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship at London School of Economics in the United Kingdom.

In addition to his duties at Strathmore, Professor Odhiambo was Chairman of the Kenya Branch of the International Biometric Society for more than six years until 2004. He also served as Consultant Statistician to the Population Council and as Consultant to the Rockefeller Foundation's Africa Regional Program. His continuing research concerns the potential and applicability of the Group Screening Method in the management of the AIDS crisis in Kenya and in Africa.