Biography

Dr. Nkechy Ezeh, an international scholar, is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Education and Director of Early Childhood Education Program at Aquinas College.  As Dr. Ezeh prepares new teachers for Early Care & Education, she is able to draw upon perspectives gained through her direct involvement in the community. As a former Early Care & Education teacher she spent many days in the classroom, specifically with vulnerable children, gaining valuable insight on the practical implementation of educational theory. 

Dr. Ezeh has served as an Adult and Parent Educator, not only teaching parents but listening and learning from those who can best describe what life is like for low income families. Finally, she has assisted several non-profit agencies as an Early Childhood Education Consultant, providing curriculum and evaluation expertise at a level that many would not normally have been able to access. In addition, for the past 15 years, Dr. Ezeh has conducted Professional Development and Parent Education workshops throughout the United States of America, Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Nigeria and Zambia.

Dr. Ezeh completed her M.Ed. at Grand Valley State University, and Ed.D in Child and Youth Studies with specialization in Curriculum Development and Systemic Change from Nova Southeastern University. She was one of the US delegates toReggio Emilia, Italy and a panelist on the Oxford University Early Literacy Round Table. Dr. Ezeh conducts training on Early Childhood related topics and on integrating the Reggio Emilia principles into a staff development and teacher preparation programs – the focus of her doctoral dissertation. Her true passion is bringing quality care and education to vulnerable children and promoting parental engagement through education, modeling and coaching.

In 2010, Dr. Ezeh was approached by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to conduct a current reality research on children living in the core city of Grand Rapids, Michigan and in 2011 to lead a collaborative process to establish an Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC) for the purpose of planning and designing an intentional preschool service system aimed at providing, expanding and sustaining the capacity of high quality early care and education programs in the vulnerable neighborhoods of Grand Rapids.  Her research and recommendations resulted in a $5 Million grant award to ELNC in 2012.

Dr. Ezeh joined Aquinas College in 1998 Dr. Ezeh and her husband Pius have five children: Onyinye MK, Obinna, Akuezumkpa, Nnenna and Niki.

Awards

• 2018 West Michigan Woman of The Year
• 2018 Grand Rapids Business Journal One of the 50 Most Influential Woman in Grand Rapids
• 2017 GRCC Salute to Women Honoree
• 2017 West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards Finalist
• 2016 YWCA Tribute Honoree - Advocacy
• 2015 WOTV Connecting with Community Award Winner 
  (Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative)
• 2012 Service to Children - Christine Nelson Professional Award

Education

• Ed.D, Nova Southeastern University
• M.Ed., Grand Valley State University
• B.A., Grand Valley State University