Black Excellence in STEM - How Learning Works: Living Sober in a Time of Excess by Dr. Kemi Ola

This event is the third offering of the student-led Black Excellence in STEM (BEST) Speaker Series, organized by the Faculty of Applied Science and supported by the UBC stEAR (Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism) Enhancement Fund. 

Dr. Ola describes herself as a storyteller and community builder, drawing inspiration from her parents, and places this at the heart of her work as an educator and researcher at UBC.

She teaches introductory programming and data visualization, supporting students as they build confidence and fluency in computing. As a researcher, her work focuses on removing barriers to learning, developing support structures that address common misconceptions, and examining the socio-emotional factors that influence learning.

At the heart of her work is a commitment to creating inclusive and supportive teaching and learning communities in computing. To advance this goal, Dr. Ola coordinates teaching assistant training programs, organizes conferences, workshops, and faculty support groups, conducts education research, explores inclusive pedagogy and most importantly, she continues to tell stories that bring people together.

In this talk, Dr. Ola draws on her research and teaching experience to explore how students learn, thrive, and navigate a world suffering from excess. Following the talk, attendees will have an opportunity to ask Dr. Ola questions and engage with her during the networking session.