The Ashesi community is proud to welcome Professor Edwin Kay, a visiting professor from Lehigh University in the United States, who joined our Computer Science Department last year. Prof. Kay received a Fulbright Scholarship which allows him to teach in Ashesi's faculty for a year. The Fulbright Scholar Program is an international fellowship program which provides American scholars with outstanding academic credentials the opportunity to work at an international university. His decision to come to Ashesi was fueled by his interest in Africa and knowledge of Ashesi's innovative curriculum.
Prof. Kay earned his first and second degrees in Mathematics in 1964 and 1966 at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Lehigh University respectively. He completed a Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1968 and went on to obtain a second Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology in 1971 also from Lehigh University. Before pursuing his interest in Computer Science, Prof. Kay taught in Lehigh's psychology department from 1971-1983. The professor has been teaching in Lehigh University since 1971. However, Ashesi is not Prof. Kay's first teaching experience in Africa. He traveled to Cameroon in 1995 and taught mathematics on a volunteer basis at Buea University for two years.
Prof. Kay stated that his two experiences in Africa have been quite different. Buea University is located in a remote part of Cameroon, which provides a very different atmosphere than the buzz of urban life that surrounds Ashesi. He mentioned that the city of Accra has a much faster pace than Buea and, with so many commuters in the city, is livelier.
Besides teaching at Ashesi, Prof. Kay is currently working on a project with The Women’s Trust Foundation in Pokuase. Women’s Trust was set up to support needy but brilliant girls financially so they can have access to a quality education. Currently, the foundation is supporting 63 bright young women in Pokuase.
When asked whether he saw Ashesi as being the change that Africa needs, he stated, “Absolutely, Ashesi’s quest to raise ethical and entrepreneurial leaders will definitely help improve Africa”.
Prof. Kay will remain at Ashesi until August 2011.