2008 Woodie Awards
Sociology professor hopes his students feel they can change the world
Catherine Hyland
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Life
Kwaku-Obosu-Mensah is a sociology professor who teaches at Lorain County Community College. He was born in West Africa but has traveled all over the world, attended three different colleges in three different countries, and achieved his PhD, which is a very special and rare achievement in his culture.
Obosu-Mensah has lived in the United States for seven years; first teaching in Jackson, Tenn. at Lani College, then in Bowling Green, Ky. at Western Kentucky University, and now at Lorain County Community College.
Obosu-Mensah was born in Oyoko in the eastern region of Ghana in West Africa. He was born with the name Kwaku, meaning Wednesday, Obosu, meaning rainmaker, which is also his family name, and Mensah, meaning the third child born in the family.
He traveled to many countries throughout his life for education. He has been to countries such as Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, Nigeria, Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Israel, Canada, USA, and Mexico. When asked what country he enjoyed the most, he responded by saying, "Norway, because I was younger with less responsibilities when I lived there. I just had fun."
Though he has left Ghana, most of his family still resides there and some also live in Norway, Germany, and Britain. Despite being so far away from his family, he sees them every summer when he visits.
Traveling to different countries, seeing different cultures, and learning so much has made him a very intelligent and understanding person. He has achieved what most people never get a chance to and when asked about what he thinks his greatest achievement was, he said, "Getting my PhD because I come from a country where very few get a PhD."
As a Sociology professor here, this semester, he teaches Introduction to Sociology, Race and Ethnicity, Social Problems, The Family, and International Affairs. With all these different courses he teaches, the most important lesson he feels that he taught his students was "to draw conclusions for themselves and not allow others to do it for them," and, "to remember that there are different interpretations for every situation."
When talking about his students, he proudly said, "I work hard and love to see my students succeed and I learn a lot from them. That's why I like class discussions, so that I listen to them. When they succeed, I feel I've done what I'm supposed to do. I don't want my students to hesitate to come talk to me if they need to talk to me." He also had a message for his students. "I want them to feel like they can change the world for the better."
Obosu-Mensah has lived in the United States for seven years; first teaching in Jackson, Tenn. at Lani College, then in Bowling Green, Ky. at Western Kentucky University, and now at Lorain County Community College.
Obosu-Mensah was born in Oyoko in the eastern region of Ghana in West Africa. He was born with the name Kwaku, meaning Wednesday, Obosu, meaning rainmaker, which is also his family name, and Mensah, meaning the third child born in the family.
He traveled to many countries throughout his life for education. He has been to countries such as Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, Nigeria, Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Israel, Canada, USA, and Mexico. When asked what country he enjoyed the most, he responded by saying, "Norway, because I was younger with less responsibilities when I lived there. I just had fun."
Though he has left Ghana, most of his family still resides there and some also live in Norway, Germany, and Britain. Despite being so far away from his family, he sees them every summer when he visits.
Traveling to different countries, seeing different cultures, and learning so much has made him a very intelligent and understanding person. He has achieved what most people never get a chance to and when asked about what he thinks his greatest achievement was, he said, "Getting my PhD because I come from a country where very few get a PhD."
As a Sociology professor here, this semester, he teaches Introduction to Sociology, Race and Ethnicity, Social Problems, The Family, and International Affairs. With all these different courses he teaches, the most important lesson he feels that he taught his students was "to draw conclusions for themselves and not allow others to do it for them," and, "to remember that there are different interpretations for every situation."
When talking about his students, he proudly said, "I work hard and love to see my students succeed and I learn a lot from them. That's why I like class discussions, so that I listen to them. When they succeed, I feel I've done what I'm supposed to do. I don't want my students to hesitate to come talk to me if they need to talk to me." He also had a message for his students. "I want them to feel like they can change the world for the better."
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