UMD hearing and speech sciences lecturer Dr. Dominique Mwepu dies at 53

By Alvin Wu
Domestic Affairs
UMD hearing and speech sciences lecturer Dr. Dominique Mwepu dies at 53

Dr. Dominique Mwepu. ROCKVILLE ASSEMBLY OF GOD/Facebook

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Dec. 28 (ZFJ) — Dr. Dominique Mwepu, 53, of Gaithersburg, Md., a lecturer for the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park, died on Sept. 30, 2024.

The Montgomery County Police Department reported that he had been fatally struck by a car.

“He was a beloved husband, father, friend, known for his incredible sense of humor, always quick with a joke and able to bring laughter to even the most difficult moments,” reads his obituary. “His lighthearted spirit and love for making others smile will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”

Mwepu earned his Ph.D. and post-graduate diploma in education from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He earned his master of education and undergraduate degrees from the Institut Supérieur Pédagogique in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

His scholarship focused on applied linguistics, language policy and planning, language didactics, and literary studies. Before he joined UMD, he served as an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia and as an assistant professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

During the fall 2024 semester, Mwepu taught two sections of HESP 120, Introduction to Linguistics, a class he has taught for a while. This course is a benchmark requirement for hearing and speech sciences majors, so for many undergraduates in the department, he was one of their first instructors at Maryland.

On his curriculum vitae, Mwepu described his teaching philosophy as “rooted in the understanding that the classroom should be an anxiety-free zone in which students exercise the freedom to learn without any fear or intimidation. Building a trusting relationship through dialogue is essential. I start by affirming students and assuring them that they will be accepted and respected.”

“Dominique was always a bright spot in my day,” said Associate Clinical Professor Kristin Slawson. “He was passionate about teaching and loved teaching the Freshmen Connection sections. He set the highest example of integrity and character. He saw the best in everyone and found joy in even the most difficult situations, and helped me to do the same.”

Mwepu’s students and colleagues remember him as unwaveringly upbeat.

“Dr. Dominique Mwepu brought a positive and upbeat spirit that never wavered. I witnessed his genuine interest and concern in the development of our undergraduate students. He always had them in his mind and heart,” said Stephanie Grissom, a HESP academic adviser. “He always had a smile on his face. Whenever he stopped by my office, he instantly made you smile or laugh with a witty joke or intellectual reference. I will truly miss him but know that his spirit lives on.”

In 2015, Mwepu served as a rapporteur to the minister of basic education regarding strategies to combat gender-based violence in South African schools at a National School Safety Summit in Johannesburg.

Mwepu’s obituary notes that he loved nature and “seized every opportunity to go for a walk whenever possible.” It also states that he “loved to spend time with his family and had a deep passion for photography” and that “he lived his life according to the teachings of Jesus Christ and was a light to all who knew him.”

He is survived by his mother and father Jeremie and Melanie Mwepu; wife Mireille; son Joshua; and five sisters and one brother Monique, Cryspin, Bibishe, Dorcas, Lydia, and Emmanuella.

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