Elsie Effah Kaufmann

Elsie Effah Kaufmann

FGA, FBSE, FGhIE, PE
Born (1969-09-07) 7 September 1969 (age 54)
Accra, Ghana
Nationality Ghanaian
Education
Occupations
Employer(s)University of Ghana, Legon
Known forQuiz Mistress for the National Science and Maths Quiz (2006 – present)
AwardsFellow of the International Women's Forum Leadership Foundation

Elsie Akosua Biraa Effah Kaufmann FGA, FBSE, FGhIE, PE (born 7 September 1969)[1][2] is a Ghanaian academic, academic administrator, biomedical engineer, and current host of the National Science and Maths Quiz.[3][4][5] In December 2020, Elsie Kaufmann was appointed an associate professor at the University of Ghana,[6] and was appointed the Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences on 1 August 2022.[7]

Early life and education

The daughter of educators, she hails from Assin in the Central Region.[8] Her father, Yusuf K. Effah served as the headmaster of T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Kumasi and later, Director of Education in the Western Region.[9] Kaufmann began her secondary education at the Aburi Girls' Senior High School, and obtained her International Baccalaureate Diploma from the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales in 1988.

She proceeded to the University of Pennsylvania for her Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE), a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE), and a doctorate (PhD) in Bioengineering.[10]

Career

Prof. Kaufmann was a research supervisor at the Department of Chemistry at Rutgers University in New Jersey, United States of America from May 1998 to June 2001. She served as a Teaching Assistant at the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, United States of America.[11] She was also a Senior Lecturer and the first Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering,[12] University of Ghana (2006–2012, 2014–2016).[10][12] Elsie Effah Kaufmann is a visiting scholar and Founding Head of the Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, Ghana.[13][14] She is a University Council Member at Ghana Communication Technology University.[15] She serves on the board of African Gifted Foundation Ghana (African Science Academy) as well as the British International School-Ghana.[16] [12]

She is the first woman to be appointed dean of the School of Engineering Sciences, University of Ghana, taking up the post from 1 August 2022.[17][18] She was part of the members who established School of Engineering Sciences. She presently serves as the President of the Ghana Society of Biomedical Engineers.[19]

she is the current host of the National Science and Math Quiz.[20]


Elsie Effah Kaufmann Foundation

On July 27, 2022, in Accra, Kaufmann established the Elsie Effah Kaufmann Foundation (EEKF). The foundation aims to close the existing gap in STEM-related education in Ghana by giving students access to the resources they need to do in-depth, hands-on research on the subjects.[21]

Awards and recognition

Kaufmann was a Fellow of the International Women's Forum Leadership Foundation.[11] She was awarded in 2009, as the University of Ghana's Best Teacher Award for the Sciences.[22]

She received the International Women's Forum Leadership Foundation Fellowship in 2011 and the 2017 Impact Africa Summit Laureate for Education in Ghana.[22][23]

She is also the first female recipient of the 2018 Golden Torch Award for International Academic Leadership by the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) at the 44th Annual Conference held in the United States of America.[23][24]

She is also the recipient of the National Society of Black Engineers' 2018 Golden T.O.R.C.H. (Technical OutReach and Community Help) Award for International Academic Leadership in recognition of her excellence in support of academics on an international level and exhibition of commitment to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) fields.[25]

She was awarded the Woman of the Year at the 2022 Exclusive Men of the Year Africa Awards. [26]

Kaufmann was elected a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in June 2022.

She is also a Fellow of Biomaterials Science and Engineering, elected in December 2020 and a Professional Engineer of the Ghana Institution of Engineering. She holds a PMP Certification from the Institute of Project Management Professionals – Ghana. Elsie Kaufmann has also participated in Executive Education programs at Harvard Business School and INSEAD.

Personal life and family

Kaufmann is divorced and has three children,[27] two females and a male by the name Augustus Kofi Effah Kaufmann.[28] She also has a younger sister called Belinda Yaa Dankwaa Effah who is a bank manager at United Bank of Africa (UBA) Ghana Limited.[29]

References

  1. ^ Emmanuel, Kojo (9 September 2019). "NSMQ mistress Elsie Effah Kaufmann's 50th birthday in pictures". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Age-defying NSMQ mistress marks 50th birthday". The Independent Ghana. 9 September 2019. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  3. ^ "How the National Science and Maths quiz began". Citifmonline. 6 June 2015. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Elsie Effah Kaufmann". University of Ghana. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Elsie Effah Kaufmann". Retrieved 30 June 2017 – via Google Scholar Citations.
  6. ^ Ferdin, Ellis (23 November 2020). "University of Ghana appoints Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Professor". EducationGhana. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  7. ^ Gadzekpo, Gilbert (13 May 2022). "The UGBS Nest Hosts IAU Connecting Accra Project Launch". University of Ghana Business School. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  8. ^ "The day I solved my 'Problem of the Day', it changed my life – Dr Elsie Effah Kaufmann". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  9. ^ "School History - T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School-Kumasi Real Amass". Real Amass. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Elsie A. B. Effah Kaufmann (BSE MSE PhD (Pennsylvania)) | Department of Biomedical Engineering". University of Ghana. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann | Beige Capital Savings and Loans Ltd". beigecapital. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  12. ^ a b c "Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann | Who's Who in Ghana". whoswhoghana.app. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  13. ^ "StackPath". atlanticcollege. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  14. ^ "ING. PROF. ELSIE E.KAUFMANN". sahs.uhas.edu.gh. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  15. ^ ITSS - +233(0)243818256, Henry Kweku Amoah. "Council Members Archives". GCTU. Retrieved 13 November 2023.{cite web}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Elsie A. B. Effah Kaufmann (BSE MSE PhD (Pennsylvania)) | Department of Biomedical Engineering". University of Ghana. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  17. ^ Asare, Edward (29 April 2022). "Prof Elsie Effah Kauffman named Dean of UG School of Engineering Sciences, First Woman To Hold The Position". edwardasare. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  18. ^ Adu, Elizabeth Nyaadu (6 July 2023). "Graduate employability requires collaboration – Prof. Kaufmann". Graphic Business. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  19. ^ "Elsie A. B. Effah Kaufmann (BSE MSE PhD (Pennsylvania)) | Department of Biomedical Engineering". University of Ghana. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  20. ^ "player list".
  21. ^ Faith Ayorkor, Mensah (28 July 2022). "NSMQ Mistress Elsie Kaufmann lauches N foundation to promote STEM". Graphic Online. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  22. ^ a b "My students at Legon mistake me for their colleague – Dr Kaufmann". ghanaweb.com. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  23. ^ a b GhScientific, Wilhelmina Antwi. "National Society of Black Engineers to honour Dr Elsie Kaufmann". Graphic Online. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  24. ^ "Dr Elsie A. B. Effah Kaufmann Receives National Society of Black Engineers 2018 Golden Torch Award | University of Ghana". University of Ghana. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  25. ^ "Elsie A. B. Effah Kaufmann (BSE MSE PhD (Pennsylvania)) | Department of Biomedical Engineering". University of Ghana. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Playback: 7th EMY Africa Awards on Joy Prime - MyJoyOnline.com". myjoyonline. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  27. ^ "No Ghanaian man came forward – Prof Kaufmann explains why she married a white man". Pulse Ghana. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  28. ^ "My son developed a game on Google Play Store as a student – Prof Kaufmann". myjoyonline. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  29. ^ Quist, Ebenezer Agbey (3 May 2023). ""I had my first child when I was a PhD student" – NSMQ mistress Elsie Kaufmann". Yen– Ghana news. Retrieved 28 July 2023.