Fatima Kebe

Virginia Tech
PhD Student, Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education
Projected Graduation, December 2022

University of Michigan
M.S., Engineering Management, 2014

The Ohio State University
B.S., Industrial & Systems Engineering, 2009 

Fatima's research study explores how youth in Senegal, West Africa learn engineering in non-formal educational settings. Fatima uses an asset-based lens to conduct multiple case studies in apprenticeship and out-of-school programs. Interviews and focus groups are used to engage participants and explore the strengths of each learning setting.

Senegal 4-H / Positive Youth Development Program

As a Graduate Research Assistant, Fatima developed the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) component of the 4-H Positive Youth Development program in Senegal, West Africa. The local agricultural environment was leveraged to teach STEM while empowering the youth to problem solve and innovate. 

Pan-African Robotics Competition

From 2019-2021, Fatima served as the lead coordinator of the Pan-African Robotics Competition (PARC). Over 850 middle school, high school, university students and mentors have participated in the annual robotics competition. Each year participants are given challenges based on real-world topics relevant to the sustainable development of Africa. Teams are judged and awarded based on written and oral presentations, as well as robotics performance.   

Fatima facilitated the Principles of Peer Leadership as a teaching assistant for Dr. Austin Council. She led a recitation class comprised of undergraduate students that held leadership positions on campus. The course explored theories and principles associated with leadership, motivation, teamwork, and being a positive influence among peers. The format for the course included lectures, videos, podcasts, readings, writings, and group discussions to allow students to engage in various ways of learning and communicating. This was a hybrid course consisting of online and in-person sessions.