EPOL Department - Student Spotlight

Arikpo Ekaette Dada is a doctoral student in Learning Design and Leadership whose work sits at the intersection of education, community engagement, and opportunity. Her research explores how families navigate out-of-school learning opportunities and how communities can build more connected and equitable educational ecosystems. As a community-engaged researcher and practitioner, she partners with schools, families, and community organizations to bridge research and practice. Her broader interests include educational equity, family engagement, youth opportunity, program evaluation, and community-engaged research. Ultimately, she hopes to help communities create systems where every young person has access to the relationships, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Advisors: Dr. Mary Kalantzis and Dr. William Cope