Ibukun Osunbunmi
Assessment and Instructional Support Specialist and Assistant Research Professor
My journey to the Leonhard Center:
I hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. In high school, I discovered my passion for teaching as I effortlessly taught my peers seemingly complex concepts in STEM courses. In addition, a desire to provide equitable education for kids during their foundational years prompted me to cofound an elementary school with my mother, who has about 35 years of teaching STEM courses in Nigeria. After that, I decided to pursue a doctoral degree in engineering education at Utah State University (USU) since it blended my traditional engineering background and teaching passion. Before I started at the Leonhard Center, I worked as a postdoctoral research associate on a U.S. Agency for International Development USAID-funded project at USU. As part of the USU team, I collaborated with four U.S. universities to develop a state-of-the-art water program curriculum for five Egyptian Partner Universities. The water program cut across engineering, science, and agriculture colleges.
I was endeared to the Leonhard Center since its mission of catalyzing teaching, learning, and assessment process aligns with mine. Working in the Leonhard Center, I support faculty and instructors with implementing evidence-based pedagogical and assessment strategies for transforming the learning experience of engineering students. In addition, running with the center’s vision of sustaining world-class engineering education at Penn State and conducting top-notch engineering education research is exciting.
Ibukun is passionate about:
- Evidence-based pedagogy
- Inclusive and equitable education
- Broadening participation in STEM education
- Faculty training and development
- Enhancing students learning
- Course and program assessment
Proud moments:
- Graduate Enhancement Award, Utah State University (USU), 2022, Award for an outstanding graduate student with a track record of excellence who shows a history of using the knowledge gained through educational opportunities to contribute to the USU campus, local and national communities, and their professional field to foster lasting change.
- Best Graduate Poster Award, College of Engineering, Student Research Symposium, Utah State University, USA (2022).
- Doctoral Researcher of the Year Award. Department of Engineering Education, Utah State University, USA (2022).
- Vice-President, ASEE, Student Chapter, USU (2021-2022).
- Bohne Award of Excellence in Research, Academics, and Leadership, Department of Engineering Education, Utah State University. 2021.
- International Student Council Scholarship, An award for leadership as Vice President of Education and Culture with the International Student Council, USU (2021).
- President, Toastmasters International, Cache Valley Chapter, USA. 2020
- President and founder of Brighter Minds Initiative, Nigeria. 2014.
Favorite Leonhard Center Halloween costume:
None yet!
What to contact Michael for:
Email Ibukun if you need assessment and instructional support. I am also open to helping and collaborating on interdisciplinary research that relates to engineering education research.
