Why were you drawn to Kent?
I actually had three job offers. But what brought me to Kent was a couple of reasons. My wife [Claudia] is from Ohio. She grew up in Cincinnati, so this was a way to bring her back to her family. Happy wife, happy life; that was one of the biggest reasons. Also, I went to school at the University of Akron [for my master’s], and I had friends who were doing their undergrads [at Kent] at the time, so I used to come to Kent once or twice a week, so I already had an indirect affinity with Kent. When the opportunity to apply to Kent came, I said okay, I know what Kent is about, and my wife also went to University of Akron, so we’re familiar with the area.
The third reason was that when I came for my interview, I felt comfortable with the faculty here. A fourth reason was that I went to school at the University of South Dakota [USD], and Tony [Dr. Molina] used to teach there – he actually started my Ph.D. program. A lot of things matched well for me with Kent State.
Where were you working before Kent?
When I was done with USD, I went to work at the University of California: Santa Barbara with the Center for Black Studies Research. This was during the Pandemic, so with that job I was working from home in Columbus, OH doing 75% research and 25% program work.
What is your current research?
I do a couple of things. I’m more interested in social justice and equality, but I look at them from the perspectives of public opinion, criminal justice, healthcare, and immigration, just to mention a few.
What did you start out teaching this [Fall 2022] semester?
Right now I’m teaching in the MPA program, and creating a new seven-week course from scratch: Introduction to Public Administration. Next semester I’ll be teaching a class in constitutional law and civil rights, and one in research methods in Public Administration.
What would your dream course to teach be?
Something on African politics or immigration politics.
What are your professional goals for the next five years?
To get tenure, that’s the biggest thing for me. Maybe travel a bit more. I like to travel with my work, to see new places and meet new people. I just went to Montréal, and I’m going to a conference in Saint Petersburg, Florida next semester.
Okay, now for the fun stuff. I asked some of the people in the department what they want to know about you. One person wanted to know where you got your sense of style, because you’re very stylish.
[Laughs] So, the biggest place would be my wife; she buys all my clothes. But my mom is also a high school teacher in Ghana, and she specializes in fashion and dressmaking, so growing up I had that [influence].
What’s your middle name?
Kwame
What’s your favorite type of music?
Gospel, reggae, and afrobeat.
What’s your favorite color?
Sea-blue, white, and gold.
What’s your favorite animal?
Lion.
What is your favorite place in Kent?
I haven’t been many places yet, but I like Laziza.
What’s something that you would like people to know about you?
I think that sometimes people think that I’m quiet, but when I get to know people I talk. I like to get to know people first.
This interview was conducted on 12/16/2022, by Katherine Jurak, and edited for clarity and concision.