Dr. Kennedy Amofa gets straight to the point when talking about the way he conducts classes as a professor in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business at Columbia College.
“My approach to teaching is very simple: It’s a student-centered approach,” Amofa says. “I don’t wait until the last minute to assess students on theories and concepts, but it’s a continuous assessment to try to know what level they have achieved and what resources they need to be successful.”
Amofa, who received his Master’s in Business Administration from Cardinal Stitch University and his Ph.D. in Organization and Management from Capella University, joined the CC faculty in 2017. His specialties include emerging internet technologies and business analytics.
Prior to starting his current role, Amofa worked 12 years as a senior systems analyst at IBM Rochester Manufacturing in Minnesota.
“I bring lessons to light in the real business terms so that students can comprehend,” Amofa says.
Amofa aims for his students to work together while learning through case studies and assignments, adding that small class sizes at CC allow for him to have one-on-one interaction with his students.
“I always try to inspire my students,” he says. “They have all that it takes to be global leaders. So let’s put our heart into it, let’s work hard and we can achieve our learning goals. I support them, I make sure that I encourage them, I advise them, and we all form a community of learning.”
Amofa notes the culture at CC and in the School of Business welcomes people from all backgrounds.
“We embrace everybody and we embrace diversity to the highest level, so that everybody – no matter your race, your gender, your sexual orientation – can fit in and feel part of the CC family,” he says.
Amofa takes the most pride in watching his students walk across the stage during commencement.
“Finally, after all these years, at the end they are very successful,” he says. “And when I am writing their letters of recommendation, they are ready to work in the corporate world.”
Three questions with Dr. Kennedy Amofa
1. What do you think makes Columbia College unique?
“Columbia College offers programs for both traditional and nontraditional students. Any student who is interested in the Day Program, we have a lot of options for them. We have the Online Program with all the major classes and programs. And our Columbia College Global locations provide students with a lot of opportunities at more than 40 locations across 15 states. The point is, we have everything to support the student. We have all the modalities ready so that they can be very successful and pursue their own academic goals.”
2. Why is Columbia College a good place for students to learn about business?
“Columbia College and the Robert W. Plaster School of Business have excellent professors to make sure students receive a quality education. We also have the Steven and Barbara Fishman Center for Entrepreneurship, so that when students want to start their own business, they have access to resources. Every year, we make $10,000 available to our students through our Student Pitch Competition. Another thing is internships, where we send our students out to companies and they apply everything they have learned. This helps prepare them so they know which industry they want to go into. We are always trying to help students so that they can get the right skills and knowledge to be very successful in the business world.”
3. What career opportunities do graduates typically have with a business degree from CC?
“We always make sure our students are well-prepared for their careers. We provide them with information about finance, marketing, advertising, real estate. When they are done with their degree, they can go into banking, insurance or work for a Fortune 500 company. They can start their own small business as an entrepreneur. They are all set to go into all the various industries.”
