Meet Tobenna Attah | Professor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tobenna Attah and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tobenna, what principle do you value most?
A value I am passionate about is education. The vocation of teaching stands as a noble and influential profession, wielding a profound impact on individuals and the global community. Virtually every person acquiring literacy or problem-solving skills owes their knowledge to an educator, highlighting the pivotal role professors play in shaping both individuals and societies. Throughout my experiences, I’ve worked to find ways to advance education while also maintaining a leadership role in the construction management industry. This passion for finding synergies within my professional career has helped lead to opportunities for me to share my passion for education with college students in the DFW area.

I delivered a guest lecture for the University of North Texas (UNT) Association of Construction Engineering Technology (ACET) on soft skills to master when working in construction management. Students who attended the presentation were able to gain first-hand knowledge of the challenges that arise when working on large, complex projects with different DFW municipalities. Seeing students eager to ask follow-up questions throughout the presentation helped spark my passion for education, as it is important to engage with students in a way that is most meaningful to them. Being able to adapt my presentation to tailor to the needs of the students in the audience exemplified my dedication to enhancing their knowledge of the subject matter. Ultimately, my passion for teaching is underpinned by my commitment to applied learning and industry relevance.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I continued pursuing my passion for education by becoming an Adjunct Professor at the University of Arizona. In this teaching position, I help students identify critical skills necessary for achieving academic success both personally and professionally. When I’m teaching, I introduce new concepts using relatable examples to the class. I utilize these kinds of analogies to help make course materials more understandable. This instructional approach typically captures students’ attention, fostering engaging class discussions and facilitating successful learning experiences. The primary objective of employing this methodology is to cultivate independent thinking and reasoning, thereby enhancing students’ problem-solving skills.

Apart from the traditional lecture-based learning approach and the utilization of assignments, tests, and quizzes for asynchronous learning, I have also incorporated relevant case studies whenever possible so that students can witness practical applications of relevant course material. Real-world examples tend to help students grow new perspectives based on information they can more easily connect with.

What truly fulfills me as an educator is hearing from former students about the positive influence I had on their futures. It’s incredibly rewarding, and I can’t put into words how grateful I am for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Just knowing I made a positive influence makes all the time and effort in teaching worthwhile. This kind of feedback reinforces my belief that being a professor is a noble profession.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
-Toyota Music Factory -Texas Live
-Local Libraries
-The Star in Frisco
-Riscky’s Barbecue
-Sidecar Social
-The Sports Garden

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents. Throughout my upbringing, I was raised by remarkable parents who served as exemplary role models and played pivotal roles in shaping my perspective on education. My mother’s contributions to various school districts in the DFW area underscored the importance of community involvement and dedication to fostering learning environments. Simultaneously, my father’s extensive experience as a professor instilled in me a profound appreciation for academic pursuits. Their unwavering commitment to education has profoundly influenced my values, fostering a natural affinity for learning and contributing to my personal and intellectual development.

Website: https://macvalassociates.com/

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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobenna-attah/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/anchorTobe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EkeleMedia

Other: Ekele Media Books: https://www.amazon.com/ekelemedia/e/B08QCGB6N8 Ekele Media Launch Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2904398199885678/?ref=share