Ann Okafor wants to understand the role emotional intelligence plays in educational leadership. As a first-year Master of Education (MEd) student at Queen’s Faculty of Education, she is exploring how school leaders' emotional awareness impacts teachers, student success, and overall school culture.
With a BSc in education and science and years experience as a high school biology teacher, Ann wants to deepen her understanding of leadership in schools. “I wanted to build on the foundation I already had,” she says. In fact, Anne’s interest in emotional intelligence grew from her experience in the classroom, where she observed firsthand how different leaders responded to challenges in schools. Some leaders, she noticed, had an intuitive ability to connect with their staff. “Some of the most impactful leaders can just look at you and know what you are feeling,” she says.
At Queen’s, Ann is specializing in educational leadership under the guidance of her supervisor, Dr. Benjamin Kutsyuruba, a leading expert in the field. In the first year of her master’s she is actively building her knowledge of research methodologies. And recently, she completed a course in Knowledge Mobilization with Dr. Tracy Ann Johnson-Myers where she learned how to mobilize her research findings to impact education policy. For Ann, research isn’t just about theory—it’s about impact. She is passionate that her findings reach teachers and school leaders in meaningful ways.
Looking ahead, Ann hopes to take her expertise into a role in government, influencing policies that support emotionally intelligent leadership. But life isn’t all about academia. Outside of her studies, Ann enjoys reading, cooking, and dancing. She is also a mother of four and appreciates the support of her husband and children as she pursues her degree.
As she continues her MEd journey, Ann is laying the groundwork for transformative leadership in education—one that prioritizes not just knowledge, but connection, empathy, and impact.