University of Vermont appoints Ghanaian as Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences 

The University of Vermont has appointed Dr Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie as the new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and lecturer in Public Health Sciences.

DR Komabu-Poneyie is 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.

She was recognized as the sixth most influential disabled person in the world in 2016.

Dr Komabu-Pomeyie over the years has been working hard to a combat the negative ideology surrounding disability.

“Today, reminds me of the late Judy Heumann who was one of my mothers and a mentor , who led me to the international policies and advocacy platforms. I would like to dwell on one of her favorite messages to me when she was alive. She said, “When other people see you as a third-class citizen, the first thing you need is a belief in yourself and the knowledge that you have rights. The next thing you need is a group of friends to fight back with.” With addition to this quote, I believe strongly that I got here by God’s grace and by the people Judy talked about.’

Dr. Komabu-Pomeyie’s inaugural Global Disability Studies course, a unique collaboration among UVM’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 the University of Vermont, 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.

” Again, it’s not about me but it’s about the group of friends that have been fighting with me and I know with you, I will work diligently and effectively as a transformational leader to make the world more inclusive and equitable for all. I deem it very necessary to acknowledge God, because He has perfected His promises in Psalm 34: 5 in my life. A big thank you to family and friends both home and abroad. I AM because YOU ARE!!!”

The post University of Vermont appoints Ghanaian as Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences  first appeared on 3News.

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