Ola Bamgbose
Associate Professor

Education: Ph.D.- Counselor Education and Supervision, Northern Illinois University

Certification and Licenses: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois, Illinois PEL, Nationally Certified Counselor

Clinical Areas of Interest: Attachment theory in counseling

Research Areas of Interest: School counselor professional identity, ASCA model as a framework for working in a multicultural context, and working with children's mental health

Service Work - University/Community/Profession: All departmental committees, curriculum committee

Teaching Philosophy: I would describe my teaching philosophy as constructivist through a collaborative approach. From this perspective, I see: 1) teaching and learning as processes, which occur simultaneously for my students and me. Therefore, in the teaching space, I am not the expert merely a professional co-participant learner with students who are active contributors to the learning process. 2) Dialogue and discussion promote a romance for learning, and are essential components to the continual creation of knowledge, development of critical thinking, increased self-awareness, and understanding of others worldview. 3) Experiential learning, though anxiety provoking, supports the translation of theory to practice and promotes students’ ability to, engage in creative/critical thinking and practice, cope with ambiguity, and learn ethical practice.

Interests Outside of School: Reading non-fiction and fictional works, travel, listening to different genres of music

Favorite Quotes:  "Those whose palm kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble." Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

"In diversity there is beauty and there is strength." Maya Angelou