Name: Ayotunde Oladipupo Oluwatimileyin Akinleye (or just Ayo)
Job Title: Graduate Research Assistant
Where do you hail from:
Lagos State, Nigeria.
What is it they say you do?
I help manage the Qualtrics database at CCFL. Qualtrics is a data management platform, which CCFL uses to collect various kinds of data for evaluative purposes (i.e. self-evaluation and evaluation of trainee progress). I also have other responsibilities such as, helping trainers prepare for training by printing forms required during training sessions, compiling data to create and disseminate evaluation reports to different stakeholders (primarily Megan Paul PhD. and other members of the administrative staff.)
Who are your early influences/who inspired you most?
My mother has been a constant source of inspiration in my life! She inspires me to overcome barriers the same way she did in her life. She taught me to be kind to others. She taught me to look for inspiration wherever I can find it.
What has been your greatest source of career satisfaction/ proudest achievement?
I am most proud of my achievement as an instructor in EDPS 459 Introductory Statistics course. My sense of pride as an instructor derives from the dedication and effort that I give to my students. I am also proud of this accomplishment because I have lived throughout my childhood, adolescent, and young adulthood years having social anxiety as a result of a severe speech impediment (stuttering). I sort of confirmed that I had found my voice in accomplishing my tasks as an instructor.
What has been an unexpected detour/greatest frustration/disappointment?
I began my college career as a biochemistry major with the hope of going to pharmacy school. Although I persevered and got my bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, my grades were poor. My chances of being accepted into pharmacy school seemed to have evaporated by my senior year. I decided to pursue interests in psychology. My interest in psychology quickly evolved from clinical psychology to quantitative psychology. I am now in pursuit of a doctorate degree in educational psychology with an emphasis on quantitative and psychometric methods in educational psychology. I am deeply passionate about statistics and how it can be used to understand and improve assessment in education and in the society at large.
What is your passion/what you are drawn to/what motivates you/where do you hope to be in five years?
I am mostly passionate about learning in general (i.e. not limited to academic learning). The world is a beautiful place, and I believe every human being is capable of accomplishing greatness. I want to learn about cultures, art(s), and societies (social structure and beliefs in different societies). These are the things that shape people’s minds (both old and young) and can inspire them to see their true potential.
Five years from now, I would be researching and advocating for better practices in education somewhere around the world. I have a crazy dream of becoming the president of Nigeria…. This would probably take more than 5 years to accomplish.
The quotation I live my life by is......
Allow yourself to be inspired by others. It is ok to copy (while citing), imitate, or want to be like others if those other people are doing the right things.