This fall, Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie, Ph.D., will join the College of Nursing and Health Sciences as the new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and lecturer in Public Health Sciences.
An international disability rights advocate whose experiences as a woman of color with a physical disability have fueled her advocacy for marginalized groups, especially individuals with disabilities, .
As a native of Ghana, Komabu-Pomeyie promotes the Ubuntu spirit, embodied in the phrase, 'I am because you are,' in her work to combat negative ideology surrounding disability.
“Embracing this philosophy within the community effectively challenges the individualistic ideologies prevalent in the US system, where people often face challenges alone,” said Komabu-Pomeyie.
Dr. Komabu-Pomeyie's inaugural Global Disability Studies course, a unique collaboration among ̽̽'s Special Education Department, the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion, and her alma mater, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, received the 2022 Prelock Award. The program brings international professionals together to address disability issues and formulate strategies for their own nations.
Throughout her career, Komabu-Pomeyie has served as an educator, researcher, and policy analyst for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Resource Center Coordinator for the Ghana Education Service. As an adjunct professor at ̽̽, she taught courses on Global Disability Studies and Race and Racism.
The founder of Enlightening and Empowering People with Disabilities in Africa, Komabu-Pomeyie has delivered presentations at the American Educational Research Association, New England Educational Organization, African Studies Association, and the European Conference on African Studies in Switzerland. Komabu-Pomeyie also collaborated with advocates in Ghana to establish the Disability Law (Act 715).
She has taught courses on Disability Justice, Ethical Leadership, and Disability Policies at Saint Michael's College; and previously served as the Racial Justice and Intersectionality Coordinator and the Youth Transition Program Coordinator at the Vermont Center for Independent Living. Her honors include the International Service Award from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, the Ford Foundation International Fellowship, and the award from the International Alliance of Women.
She currently serves on both national and international boards of directors, including the Global Advisory Council of World Learning International, the Free Wheelchair Mission Board, and the Vermont Special Services Transportation Agency.
"The name ’Sefakor’ means someone who brings joy in times of sadness, and in Ghana, we believe in embodying our names,” said Komabu-Pomeyie. “I strive to honor my name every day by bringing happiness to others. I'm here to bridge the gap to connect people.”
In her new role, Dr. Komabu-Pomeyie will lead DEI efforts at the college and will begin teaching Foundations of Health Equity this fall. On Friday, August 23, at 3 p.m., at the Howe Library Atrium.