Somachi Kachikwu

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Ed.D Student

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What made you choose Marymount University for the pursuit of your Doctorate?

I chose Marymount University after the interview with the faculty.

I was researching other programs, but my search ended during the interview with Dr. Lisa Turissini (Director, School of Education and Chair, Education Department). In conversation, she highlighted the critical components of my desired Ed.D. program – practical, emphasis on collaboration, research-oriented and global-minded.

My Ed.D. will be my fourth degree, and the relevance of the knowledge acquired was essential to me. I have enjoyed every second of the program, and the support from faculty and staff is fantastic.

What do you hope to accomplish by earning an Ed.D. degree?

Every course I have taken has been engaging and intriguing resulting in changing career goals. I have an international background and am passionate about improving education access in developing countries and underserved communities. My focus will probably be on Educational Technology and Policy supporting innovative projects in global education systems.

What are your long-term professional and personal goals?

As a curriculum specialist, I am dedicated to designing quality instructional materials. I hope to utilize my acquired knowledge and learned skills to build capacity for teachers and students in underserved and rural communities.

I am also working on creating global learning platforms for children. During the pandemic, I started The Learning Box International during the pandemic, a virtual after-school program for children. My carefully curated content came to life with my global audience. It was magical watching children from across the world learn together and share experiences.

Tell us a bit about your background up to this point – personal and/or professional.

I have a B.A. in Women Studies from Wesleyan University, Connecticut, an M.A in Gender Studies from University College, London and a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Leadership from the University of Leicester in the UK.

My professional experiences span over 20 years in development /non-profit work covering broad programmatic areas of education + curriculum development, policy and governance, poverty reduction, micro, and small enterprise development, gender equality, women’s rights, women empowerment strategies, and program management.

After work, I am best described as a social entrepreneur constantly generating creative ideas to improve communities and positively impact lives. I am also the founder of the Learning Box International, an educational services company for children, Consultant/Board Member for the Women Leadership Institute, and Co-Founder of The Books and Desserts Book Club, an international Book club for women.

Most importantly, I am a doting mother of four young men – 19, 18, 15 and 11.

What motivates you to complete an online program?

I enjoy learning, and this program was perfectly crafted for educators looking to reform organizations, generate innovative ideas, and make a positive difference in their communities. Every assignment (not exaggerating) is relevant to my daily work tasks.

What do you think of the Ed.D. program so far?

[The program is] intense and rigorous but worth the investment. Leading Organizational Change, taught by Dr. Marotta, was an excellent class that professionally empowered me.