A doctoral candidate in Washington State University’s College of Education has been selected as a recipient of a nationally competitive fellowship for the second year in a row.
Ola Kehinde, a student in the educational psychology program, was awarded the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Fellowship for Minoritized Professionals in Educational Measurement, the goal of which is to increase representation of minorities in the field.
The fellowship is awarded to doctoral students from Black, Brown, and Indigenous groups studying educational measurement or a related field of study.
Kehinde said because there are so many minority Ph.D. students applying for the fellowship, it is an extremely competitive process.
“Being a CZI Fellow Emeritus is a fantastic honor,” he said.
Kehinde said professional development opportunities are one of the greatest advantages of the fellowship. In April, awardees will receive travel funding toward the annual National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) conference where they can participate in workshops, networking, and other activities that support success in their future careers. During the conference, Kehinde will have the special opportunity to meet with scholars in his field whose books he has read.
“Since becoming a CZI fellow, I have seen significant growth,” Kehinde said. “I have been able to expand my network of colleagues in the same field outside of WSU’s walls.”
Kehinde expressed his gratitude toward his supervisors, Shenghai Dai, and Brian French, for their guidance and assistance.
Dai said he has always been impressed by Kehinde’s enthusiasm and dedication to active learning.
“He is able to diligently equip himself with knowledge and skills in the areas of educational measurement,” Dai said. “As a young professional, he has been making contributions to this field with quality research.”
The fellowship’s selection process requires a description of research interest(s), curriculum vitae (CV), a graduate school transcript, and a proposal for NCME 2022.
