Leadership, Service and Recognition

Leadership Roles

  • Founder and Director, Loy Excellentia Initiative –A mentorship and empowerment platform supporting African, Black, Caribbean, and international students. Under his leadership, the Initiative received the 2025 Brandon Community Award (Platinum)—the highest distinction—recognized across non-profit, community organization, and service categories for its impact on student success and community development.
  • Founder and Director, CREAMS Research Lab – Advancing research at the intersection of culture, self-regulated learning, engagement, motivation, and academic success

Community Engagement and Public Leadership

  • Convener and Speaker, Being an African Student in Canada Webinar Series (2025) – Supporting student transitions, identity, and success
  • Invited Speaker,British Columbia Igbo Day Canada (2025) – Faith, Culture, and Identity: Sustaining Cultural Values in the Diaspora
  • Keynote Speaker, Black History Month Celebration, Brandon University (2024) – Rising Together: Empowering African/Black Students to Excel Through Mentorship (organized through the Loy Excellentia Initiative)
  • Organizer, Life After Graduation: Our Stories (2024) – Highlighting student pathways, identity, and career development
  • Event Chair, Cultural Day Celebration and New Yam Festival, Umuigbo Brandon Association (2023, 2025) – Leading a major cultural event promoting identity, belonging, and community cohesion within the African diaspora

Academic and Professional Service

  • Chair, Studying and Self-Regulated Learning SIG, American Educational Research Association (AERA) (2026–)
  • Co-Chair, Studying and Self-Regulated Learning SIG, American Educational Research Association (AERA) (2025–2026). Progressive leadership roles within the SIG (2019–2025), including Senior Program Chair, Junior Program Chair, and Secretary/Newsletter Chair.
  • Co-Chair, Inclusive Education Professors’ Roundtable, Manitoba (2024–Present)
  • Member-at-Large, Canadian Association for Educational Psychology (CAEP), Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE) (2024–2025)
  • Co-ordinator, Cultural Diversity Support Office Development, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
  • Editorial and Review Service – Reviewer for SSHRC Insight Grant applications, American Psychological Association (Division 15), AERA SIG, and multiple peer-reviewed journals
  • University Service, Brandon University – Serving on key committees including Research Committee (BURC), Senate Research Committee, Graduate Education Committee, and Admissions Committees

Awards and Recognition