Biography of Assistant Professor Samuel Adu-Poku


My full name is Samuel Kwaku Adu-Poku. I am an Assistant Professor of Art Education at the Department of Art, Youngstown State University (YSU), Ohio. I trace my roots back to Ghana in West Africa where I obtained both my Bachelor of Fine Art Degree and Graduate Diploma in Art Education from the University of Science and Technology. I completed my Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Art Education at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada. I earned my Ph.D. Degree in Curriculum Studiens from the University of British Columbia in Canada. Currently, I teach art education courses and provide leadership in developing the art education program.

I am active in my capacity as Artist/Researcher/Teacher/Scholar and have published a number of research articles and scholarly essays. As part of my ongoing artistic exploration, I have exhibited in Ghana, British Columbia and New Brunswick, Canada, and Ohio. My research pursuits have recently gained international recognition after receiving two prestigious dissertation research awards in Canada and the United States– The inaugural Arts Researchers & Teachers Society Award (CACS-ARTS) for SIG 2003 Dissertation Award for Research in Art Eduction from the Canadian Society for the Study of Education, and the Arts & Learning SIG 2004 Dissertation Award from the American Educational Research Association respectively.